Rayagada: The ongoing strike by the Drivers’ Ekta Mahasangh has thrown life out of gear across Odisha since March 15. A groom and his family member from Sunakhandi Panchayat in Kalayansinghpur block of Rayagada district had to bear the brunt of the strike. In the absence of public transport, he and his marriage party had to trek 28 km to reach the bride’s house and solemnise their marriage.
According to reports, the marriage of a youth in Kalyansinghpur was fixed with a girl from Dibalapadu village. As there was no transport to reach the bride’s house due to the drivers’ strike, the groom and baratis walked the entire distance to the girl’s house on Thursday night.
The marriage was solemnized yesterday night but the groom and his baratis are still stranded at the groom’s house. They either have to walk the entire distance back to the groom’s village or wait for the Drivers’ Mahasangh to withdraw their strike.
The incident has been the talk of Rayagada since today morning and a video of the groom walking along with the baratis to the bride’s house has become viral on social media platforms.
It is worth mentioning here that thousands of truck and taxi drivers under the banner of Driver Ekata Manch are on an indefinite strike across the state since Wednesday demanding pension after 60 years of age, death benefits, life insurance, social security, parking and toilet facility.
