If someone is unable to afford an ambulance, Hospital authorities will not offer any help.
A shameful incident took place in the backward district of Kalahandi When a tribal man named Dana Majhi in Odisha walked nearly 10 kilometres with his daughter, carrying his wife’s body on his shoulder after failed to get a mortuary van from government Hospital.
His wife Amang Deis (42) died of tuberculosis at the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna on Tuesday night.Next morning local spotted when Dana Majhi walked around 10 km carrying his wife’s body wrapped in cloth. His village Melghara in Rampur block is about 60 km from Bhawanipatna.
After the help of local reporters who spotted the father-duo, District Collector arranged ambulance for the remaining 50 km of the journey.
“I told the hospital authorities that I am a poor man and cannot afford a vehicle. Despite repeated requests, they said they cannot offer any help,” Majhi told a local television channel.
Odisha government had launched the Mahaparayana scheme this year in February, offering free transportation of bodies from government hospitals to the residences of the deceased. Dead body carriers are supposed to be deployed at 37 government hospitals and a total of 40 vehicles were assigned for the job.
