Jharsuguda: A family in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district was forced to carry a deceased woman’s body on a motorcycle because the Mundrajora Community Health Center (CHC) in Laikera block was “unavailable” for a hearse.
According to reports, after the death of Naresh Chhatriya’s wife, Jamuna Chhatriya, the family requested a hearse service to transport her body home. However, hospital officials told them that “no such vehicle was available at the health center.” With no other arrangements available, the family took the body to their village, Odiyapali, on a motorcycle.
Jharsuguda Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Dr. Shakti Prasad Padhi, said that the CHC does not have a dedicated hearse and “arrangements are being made from elsewhere.” Padhi claimed that Jamuna Chhatriya’s family allegedly refused to perform a post-mortem. He added that “the body was taken away even before the vehicle arrived.”
He further stated that the matter would be investigated and appropriate action would be taken if any negligence was found.
The incident angered local residents, who demanded that the government provide a dedicated hearse at the Mundrajore Community Health Center to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
