Daijiworld Media Network - Cuttack
Cuttack, Jan 25: In a moving tale of love and determination, a 75-year-old man from Sambalpur undertook an arduous 350-km journey, pulling his ailing wife on a trolley rickshaw to Cuttack for medical treatment, as he could not afford any other means of transport.
The elderly man, Babu Lohar, a resident of Sambalpur’s Gole Bazar area, transported his 70-year-old wife Jyoti, fondly known as Jolley, to SCB Medical College and Hospital, braving harsh weather, dust and physical exhaustion throughout the journey.
Jolley has been suffering from paralysis for the past few months. When treatment at the local hospital failed to show improvement, Babu decided to take her to Cuttack for better medical care. With limited financial resources and unwilling to seek help from others, he resolved to undertake the journey using his trolley rickshaw, which is also his sole source of livelihood.
Prepared for the long journey, Babu carried basic necessities including a blanket, bed, bedsheet and mosquito net on the trolley. He would pull the rickshaw during the day and spend nights under shop verandas or trees. Several kind-hearted people extended help by offering food and small amounts of money along the way.
After reaching Cuttack, Jolley was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, where she underwent treatment for nearly two months. During this period, Babu sustained himself by pulling his trolley rickshaw within the city and by working as a ragpicker, collecting bottles to earn a living.
On January 19, after Jolley was discharged from the hospital, the couple began their return journey to Sambalpur in the same trolley rickshaw. However, near Gandhi Chhak overbridge in Choudwar, an unidentified truck reportedly hit the trolley, causing Babu to lose control. The trolley rammed into a road divider, resulting in Jolley falling and sustaining injuries.
Local residents alerted the 112 emergency helpline, following which Choudwar police rushed to the spot and shifted Jolley to a hospital for first aid. She was later taken to the Tangi Community Health Centre for further treatment.
Despite the accident, Babu ensured that his damaged trolley rickshaw was brought to the health centre, refusing to leave it behind. The next day, after Jolley was discharged, Tangi police station inspector-in-charge Bikash Sethi offered to arrange seats for the couple on an air-conditioned bus. However, Babu declined the offer.
“He said he cannot abandon two things — his trolley, which is his livelihood, and his wife, who is the love of his life,” Sethi said, adding that Babu told him he draws strength by looking at his wife whenever he feels exhausted.
The police later arranged for the trolley to be repaired and provided the couple with food and financial assistance before they resumed their journey back to Sambalpur.