The haunting image was captured Wednesday by a local journalist who asked him why.
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It comes days after a video emerged of a man who was forced to walk for hours carrying his wife’s corpse 10km home from hospital, after she died of tuberculosis on Tuesday night at the district headquarters hospital in Bhawanipatna of Odisha’s Kalahandi district.
“The hospital authorities said that there are no vehicles”, Mr Majhi told local media. Meanwhile, CDMO of Kalahandi Dr B K Brahma yesterday claimed that the husband of the deceased did not contact anybody for a vehicle to take the body from the hospital to his village. They refused to make any arrangements. Out of sheer desperation, he wrapped the body of his wife in a piece of bedsheet and carried it on his shoulders. He also called a TV reporter, who filmed the ordeal and broadcast the story widely at home and overseas. “Despite repeated requests, they said they can not offer me any help”.
“I am carrying the dead body of my wife as I am poor and can not afford a vehicle”.
They eventually arranged for a auto for him, Singh said.
District Collector of Kalahandi Brundha D told reporters at Bhawanipatna that the probe report showed there were “lapses and negligence” on the part of the staff of district headquarter hospital, where the woman was undergoing treatment, and the security agency. “We have a new policy in force now, which is ambulance services to take dead bodies where they are required to be taken”, said Patnaik.
The hospital authorities have denied his charge.
“Her death was not confirmed by the on-duty doctor and no discharge slip was issued”. For Dana’s sufferings, the team held responsible to all the hospital staff as well as the administration. A hospital official told CNN they didn’t know he took the body.
Indian politician Baijayant “Jay” Panda called the incident “shameful beyond words” and said Thursday that a government program created earlier this year to help families transport their loved ones’ bodies from government hospitals is being expanded.
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Officials said they have offered to help Manjhi with his wife’s funeral, according to NDTV.
