His whole life, Dambaru Gorada – a cleaner and part-time job – has always been a penny. In the government area of ​​Malkangiri district in Odisha, he chose to live without electricity, rarely bathing at home to save water, and barely cooked to save all possible Rs. A lonely life, quiet and away from public attention.
But in the midst of death, Gorada has become a national topic. Over the past few days, Odisha’s headlines have recorded surprising cash discoveries, hidden in the most unexpected corner of his modest home. Preliminary estimates suggest that his savings could be close to Rs 1 crore. Unmarried and without a well-known family, he left behind a wealth and no claimant yet.
Gorada died of a heart attack at the Malkangiri regional headquarters hospital five days ago. At the time of his death, Rs 27,000 in cash was found in his pocket. Everything they found shocked everyone when police and hospital staff opened his government area near the old hospital building.
The cash is hidden in the crib, hidden on the shelf, and even stuffed into coal bags. Some currency notes have been cut into small pieces by rats. In addition to rotting currency, gold ornaments are also recycled.
Gorada has only 40 days left before withdrawing from government services. He is the Kantasore Village in the neighboring Nabarangpur region and has worked in Malkangiri for most of his life. Neighbors said they hadn’t seen any relatives visit him in years.
“He was paid enough to live alone without any family responsibilities,” said hospital staffer Chudamani Nayak. “But he was neither delicious nor lived in a proper house. In the end, he had nothing to accumulate wealth.”
Police and hospital staff also found the worn-out staff area rope crib. According to them, it may have been initially used as a temporary stretcher by people rushing to hospitals from remote areas. After being abandoned, it is believed to have been repurposed by Gorada. Semi-burning candles were also found on nearby wooden stools.
Neighbors said the man once relied on Rs 5 meals from the Aahaar Center, a highly subsidized food channel operating at a hospital premises. He would separate the meals between lunch and dinner. They also claimed that he lent the mortgaged gold ornaments.
After his death, several distant relatives stepped forward and brought his body to the final ceremony. It is unclear how his cash and any provident fund savings will be transferred to his next relative.
publishing – April 23, 2025 at 11:41 am IST
