Kumbh Mela Returnee Dies In Odisha, Dist Admin Takes 12 Hrs To Reach

Boudh: In an unprecedented incident, the district administration of Boudh took more than 12 hours to reach the family of a retired school teacher who died on Saturday night after returning from Kumbh Mela in Haridwar on April 22, 2021.

The retired teacher who taught Sanskrit language in a local school of Dhalapur was a resident of Ganjam district but he was staying in Dhalapur after retirement from active service.

While his COVID report is yet to come, no neighbours or locals from his village dared to take the body for cremation suspecting him of dying in COVID19.

It was alleged that, though the local administration has been informed about his death more than 12 hours back, nobody cared to visit the spot and help in his cremation.

Trilochan Pradhan, the CDMO of Boudh said, “He is a local of Ganjam district. Though his sample was taken on April 22 for testing, we are yet to receive a COVID report. So as per the protocol, his cremation will be done by wearing PPE kit. The Collector and Tehsildar are already informed about the incident.”

“In the meantime, we are collecting samples from his contacts including his family members and they are being advised to stay in isolation,” said Pradhan.

However, as the latest information the BDO and Tehsildar have reached the spot and the process of his cremation have been started after more than 12 hours of delay.

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(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)