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Lifeline for hapless children

Correspondent

KORAPUT: Rabi Khora, has lost his childhood when he starts selling tea to passengers in Hirakhand Express, the only train joining undivided Koraput district with the heartland of the State. But he has no regrets.

Rabi had lost his father when he was in fifth standard in a local school near Bhalumaska in Rayagada district and the responsibility of looking after the family falls on him. He, like 20 more children from the same locality, solely depends on the train. While someone sells tea and coffee, others sell samosa, potato chips, idlies and other eatables in the train.

Several obstacles

He and his friends board at Bhalumaska and get down at Dumuriput after emptying their baskets to get back again into the train in the same evening.

However, the sales are not same all days.

Nature's fury during the rainy season has been the greatest obstacle.

Owing to frequent landslides between Rayagada and Koraput, passengers travelling from Bhubaneswar often get down at Rayagada or Vizianagaram leaving only a few passengers in the train heading for Koraput making the lives of these dependent children miserable, says Rabi.

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Lifeline for hapless children

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