In a shocking display of despair and frustration, a family in Bihar’s Vaishali district was forced to perform the last rites of an elderly Mahadalit woman right on the public road. The incident unfolded in the Goroul police station area, specifically Sondho Mubarakpur Manjhi Tola, where longstanding encroachments by local shopkeepers had blocked the traditional path to the cremation ground.
The woman’s death left her grieving family in a bind. As they prepared to carry her body for cremation, they found the route obstructed by shops and structures illegally built by traders. Pleas for passage fell on deaf ears, igniting outrage among the Mahadalit community, who have long suffered without proper access roads.
Defiant and desperate, the relatives arranged wood piles in the middle of the road and lit the funeral pyre amid heavy traffic. Videos of the roadside cremation quickly spread across social media, drawing widespread condemnation and highlighting deep-seated issues of discrimination and infrastructure neglect in rural Bihar.
The act paralyzed local traffic for hours. Police and administration officials rushed to the scene, deploying fire brigade teams to douse the flames and clear the roadway. Local representatives who arrived faced fierce protests from villagers demanding immediate removal of encroachments.
This heartbreaking episode underscores the plight of marginalized communities in India. Families like this one are routinely denied basic rights, including dignified farewells for their loved ones. Authorities have promised action, but residents insist on swift clearance of the path to prevent future tragedies. The incident serves as a stark reminder that access to cremation grounds is not just a logistical issue but a matter of human dignity.