Kandhamal family forced to carry body in auto-rickshaw as hearse denied 

In yet another incident of alleged medical apathy reported from Phulbani town in Kandhamal district, a body was seen being carried not in the government’s dedicated hearse (Mahaprayan vehicle) but in an auto rickshaw. 

The incident has been a matter of discussion in the town. 

As per the reports, Bhimsen Kanhar, a resident of Namerabali village under Gochhapada police limits, had gone to a nearby rivulet to take a bath. Due to some reasons, he fell into the water. After coming to know about the incident, his family members went  to the spot, rescued him and immediately rushed him to Gochhapada government hospital and then to Phulbani district headquarters hospital (DHH). 

However, it was too late. The doctors there declared him received dead. 

After registering an unnatural death case, the police handed over the body to the family members after autopsy. 

To take the body back to the village, the aggrieved family members looked for the ‘Mahaprayan’ vehicle. Since no such vehicle was made available to them, they were forced to hire an auto rickshaw to take the body back to the village. 

When contacted,  ADMO of Phulbani DHH, Dr Abhay Pattanayak shifted the blame to the family members. 

“Our ‘Mahaprayan’ vehicle has been in the garage for around 15 days after it met with an accident. In its place, as an alternative arrangement, we have a van (OMNI) and our staff are well aware of this,” said Dr Pattanayak. 

“We had even informed them about the availability of a hearse. But they took the body in an auto-rickshaw on their own,” clarified Dr Pattanayak.