Denied ambulance by Bihar hospital, fathers carry dead kids on shoulders

PATNA: Family members of two minor flood victims were forced to carry the bodies on their shoulders in north Bihar’s Muzaffarpur after being allegedly denied an ambulance or a mortuary van.

Raju Mahto and Sanjay Paswan carried the bodies of their children for 250 metres from the post-mortem department of Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur, 71km north of Patna, before hiring private vehicles to take the bodies to their villages in Meenapur block of the district.

Abhishek Kumar, son of Raju M ah to of Du barb ana village, and Bun ty, nephew of San jay Pa swan of Mothaha village, died after drowning in flood waters on Tuesday.

“We pleaded with the hospital administration to provide us an ambulance or a mortuary van to carry the bodies to our respective villages. When they refused, we were left with no option, but to carry the bodies on our shoulders to the place where private transporters park their vehicles,” Mahto and Paswan said.

SKMCH superintendent Dr GK Th ak ur, however, refuted the allegation.

“We have always provided ambulances and mortuary vans whenever required. Bodies of Abhishek and Bunty were directly handed over to their relatives after post-mortem examination, and they never requested for vehicles,” Thakur claimed.

Th a ku rs aid he had ordered an inquiry into the matter. A team of doctors and hospital officials are probing it. “Stern action will be taken, if any hospital employee is found guilty,” Thakur added.

DC Dharmendra Singh could not be reached for comments as he was busy with the flood relief operations.