In Karnataka's Udupi district, a man dressed as 'Yamaraja,' the Hindu God of Death, conducting a mock long jump competition on the pothole-ridden Adi Udupi-Malpe road has taken everyone by surprise. The appearance of 'Yamaraja' was a form of protest to draw attention of officials to the deteriorating state of the road.
In the video, 'Yamaraja,' dressed in his iconic golden attire and holding a mace, is seen measuring the long jumps made by men dressed as ghosts. Assisting him is another protester dressed as 'Chitragupta,' the deity responsible for keeping records of the dead. The creative protest highlights the dire condition of the Udupi-Malpe road, which has become hazardous for daily travelers.
A video shot on the road which links Udupi to the popular Malpe Beach shows the region riddled with large potholes and unsafe for commuters.
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Following the protest, a user said, "Hope the concerned authorities look into this". Another user asked, "Why are the Corporators, MLA and MP of Udupi not taking up the issue with the authorities?"
The video has sparked outrage on social media with viewers calling out local officials and elected representatives for their inaction. The residents also argued that the road has turned into a dangerous path due to neglect by authorities.
A similar protest was conducted on roads in Bengaluru criticising the bad infrastructure. The protest was carried out by an organisation Changemakers of Kanakapura Road. The organisation held a protest with a man dressed as Yamaraj and a buffalo on roads of Anjanpura.
Previously, a woman in Hyderabad also sat on pathole with muddy water to draw attention to the poor condition of roads.