Denied hearse, man carries son’s body on shoulder

Chief minister Raghubar Das on Sunday ordered a probe in alleged lapses by the sadar hospital in Gumla, which forced a man to carry the body of his 10-year-old son on his shoulders after the hospital authorities allegedly denied a hearse vehicle for the deceased.

Das took to Twitter on Sunday and expressed his concern over the ‘unacceptable’ behaviour of the hospital authorities. He also sought a report on the incident from the Gumla administration within the next 24 hours.

According to local sources, one Karan Singh brought his son for treatment at the Gumla Sadar Hospital on Saturday. The boy was also diagnosed by a doctor and prescribed medicines. However, he died before his treatment could begin. The man allegedly left the hospital premises with his son’s body without asking for any help, an official who was on duty at the hospital on Saturday, said.

“He carried his son on his shoulder and left. We would have provided a hearse had he asked for it,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

Gumla civil surgeon J P Sanga could not be contacted for comments despite several efforts.

Paradox is that the Sadar Hospital in Gumla had at least 10 ambulances waiting at the parking when this incident occurred.

“The person found guilty of denying hearse service to the deceased boy will not be spared,” a press communique from the chief minister’s office said on Sunday.

This, however, is not the first incidence in Jharkhand wherein a deceased has been denied hearse by a governmentrun hospital.

On July 10, a similar incident occurred in the state’s Chatra district, where farmer Laxman Oraon had to carry the body of his brother in his lap after he was allegedly denied a hearse vehicle.

Earlier this year, the story of an Odisha man who had to carry the body of his five-year-old daughter in his lap after being denied hearse drew flak for the administration, and was largely condemned on social media.

GUMLA CIVIL SURGEON J P SANGA COULD NOT BE CONTACTED FOR COMMENTS DESPITE SEVERAL EFFORTS.