In Valsad’s Dharampur taluka, residents of Mohna Kavchali village were forced to wade through waist-deep water to carry a funeral procession to the cremation ground, highlighting the absence of even basic infrastructure.
The village of around 1,200 people lacks proper roads, a bridge, and even a designated cremation ground. Locals from Kumbhyapada and Bhotan hamlets say they have been deprived of development for years, despite repeated demands.
When a villager recently passed away, relatives and neighbours had no option but to carry the body across a swollen stream. Villagers also formed a human chain to transport firewood for the cremation, risking their lives in the strong current.
Residents Rajiram Bhai and Mukesh Bhai voiced frustration, saying that even in death, villagers are denied dignity due to the lack of basic facilities. They urged authorities to provide a road, bridge, and cremation site without further delay.