Chhattisgarh govt driver found dead in pit in Surajpur's Parsiya village
Synopsis
A Chhattisgarh government driver died under suspicious circumstances in a remote Surajpur village, and the community had to carry his body on a makeshift bamboo stretcher because roads were too damaged for vehicles — a grim illustration of rural infrastructure failure compounding a still-unexplained death.
Key Takeaways
Lakhanram , a driver with the Tribal Welfare Department in Surajpur, Chhattisgarh , was found dead in a pit on 20 September 2026 .
He had visited Parsiya village under Odagi police station for traditional faith healing with his brother-in-law.
Police suspect excessive alcohol consumption and an accidental fall into the pit, but await the post-mortem report for confirmation.
Poor road conditions forced villagers to carry the body on a makeshift stretcher made of a bedsheet, blanket, and bamboo .
Additional SP Yogesh Kumar Dewangan confirmed a case has been registered and investigation is underway.
Villagers had previously staged a protest demanding road improvements to Parsiya village , highlighting a longstanding infrastructure gap.
A driver employed with the Assistant Commissioner of the Tribal Welfare Department in Chhattisgarh was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Surajpur district on 20 September 2026, after reportedly visiting a remote village for traditional faith healing. The deceased has been identified as Lakhanram, whose body was discovered in a pit roughly 100–200 metres from where he had been left to sleep.
What Happened That Night
Lakhanram had travelled to Parsiya village under the jurisdiction of Odagi police station along with his brother-in-law for faith healing and traditional treatment. According to police, he consumed excessive alcohol while returning from the village and was unable to walk on his own.
With assistance from another person, he was helped across a drain and left to sleep at an acquaintance's house. The following morning, when his brother-in-law returned to check on him, Lakhanram was reportedly missing.
Body Found in Pit, Investigation Underway
His body was subsequently found in a pit approximately 100–200 metres from the house. Additional Superintendent of Police, Surajpur, Yogesh Kumar Dewangan, confirmed that a case has been registered and an investigation initiated.
Police have stated that excessive alcohol consumption and an accidental fall into the pit are among the suspected causes of death. However, officials cautioned that the exact circumstances will only become clear after the post-mortem examination and a thorough investigation. The family and community members have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the death, indicating the matter remains unresolved.
Remote Roads Force Villagers to Carry Body by Hand
The incident also threw a spotlight on the dire state of road infrastructure in the region. Vehicles were unable to reach Parsiya village due to muddy and severely damaged roads, making the retrieval of the body a logistical challenge.
Villagers and others fashioned a makeshift stretcher from a bedsheet, blanket, and bamboo to carry Lakhanram's body on their shoulders until they reached a point accessible by vehicle. The images of the stretcher-bearing procession have drawn renewed attention to persistent demands by villagers for improved road connectivity to Parsiya village — a demand they had reportedly articulated through a formal protest not long before this incident.
Broader Questions Around Tribal Village Infrastructure
This incident is not an isolated grievance. Remote tribal villages across Chhattisgarh frequently face challenges in accessing basic road connectivity, healthcare, and emergency services. The absence of an all-weather road to Parsiya village meant that even transporting a body required community improvisation. Villagers had staged a protest demanding road improvements before this episode brought national attention to the gap.
Notably, the confluence of a suspicious death, poor infrastructure, and a government employee involved has amplified local concern. Police are awaiting the post-mortem report, which is expected to provide critical clarity on the cause of death and direct the course of the investigation.
Point of View
And the infrastructure failure that turned a body retrieval into a community ordeal. The bamboo-stretcher image is a stark indicator of how far basic road connectivity remains from many tribal villages in Chhattisgarh, despite repeated policy commitments. The fact that villagers had already protested about this very road before this incident suggests the system had advance notice and did not act. If the post-mortem raises further questions, pressure on local administration will intensify quickly.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Lakhanram and how did he die?
Lakhanram was a driver employed with the Assistant Commissioner of the Tribal Welfare Department in Chhattisgarh's Surajpur district. He died under suspicious circumstances on 20 September 2026 after visiting Parsiya village for traditional faith healing; his body was found in a pit roughly 100–200 metres from where he had been left to sleep.
What do police suspect caused the death?
Police, including Additional Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar Dewangan, suspect that excessive alcohol consumption and an accidental fall into the pit may have caused Lakhanram's death. The exact cause will only be confirmed after the post-mortem examination and further investigation.
Why was a makeshift stretcher used to carry the body?
Damaged and muddy roads made it impossible for vehicles to reach Parsiya village, so villagers fashioned a stretcher from a bedsheet, blanket, and bamboo to carry the body on their shoulders to a vehicle-accessible point. Villagers had previously staged a formal protest demanding road improvements to the village.
Has a case been registered?
Yes, police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. Authorities are awaiting the post-mortem report to establish the precise cause of death before determining the next course of action.
What broader issue does this incident highlight?
The incident underscores the persistent lack of all-weather road connectivity in remote tribal villages across Chhattisgarh. The absence of a motorable road to Parsiya village meant emergency retrieval had to rely on community improvisation, a problem villagers had already flagged through protests before this death occurred.
