A family residing at ward no.44 in Khannagar locality of Cuttack has found themselves trapped due to a newly constructed elevated drainage system directly outside their residence. 

This development has reportedly turned life into a daily ordeal for Jhari Behera's family, compelling them to use a ladder to access the outside world.

As per reports, the Behera family has been obstructed with a more than 10-foot height barrier outside their home, a result of municipal efforts to enhance the city's drainage planning, connecting the railway line with the new bus stand. 

This unforeseen consequence has reportedly made their everyday life perilous, particularly for elderly Jhari and his ailing wife, both of whom are forced to use a ladder to come outside, risking injury with each ascent and descent.

Making things worse, Jhari even sustained a significant head injury following a fall. Moreover, medical conditions of Jhari's elderly wife have made accessing necessary healthcare challenging. The practical concerns of this situation have also forced the family to sell off much of their livestock.

"We are forced to use a ladder to come outside from our house. I am an elderly person, and my wife is suffering from ailments. Though we are going through a severe ordeal, the administration has lent a deaf ear to our plight," said Jhari

"The authorities had promised to provide necessary facilities when they built the ten-foot-high drain in front of our house. However, nothing has been done for the last four months, and we are suffering a lot. We are deprived of proper ventilation due to the huge wall. We are not even able to take our ailing mother-in-law to the hospital," rued Jhari's sister-in-law, Smitarekha Behera.

Mayor Responds to Crisis

After enduring this predicament for four months, the Behera family's appeals have finally elicited a response from the local administration that has turned a deaf ear to the ordeal of the family.

The Mayor has acknowledged the issues this family is facing and has promised corrective measures, emphasising that urban development should not come at a cost to residents' welfare.

"A road should have been constructed in front of the house. The authorities are performing duties without having any foresight. I will visit the place with other officials, and necessary action will be taken soon," said Cuttack Mayor Subash Singh.

The predicament voiced by residents like the Behera family underscores frustration with the lack of government support in adjusting their homes to accommodate the new infrastructure, especially when financial constraints prevent them from independently modifying their properties.