Dhule (Maharashtra):In an unfortunate incident the body of a COVID19 victim from a village in Sakri taluka was taken for last rites in garbage vehicle as no other vehicle was available and villagers chose to remain away. The relatives of the deceased expressed anguish over the incident.
A 70-year-old person infected with COVID19 died in Samode village in Sakri taluka at the wee hours of Saturday. However, neither ambulance nor any other vehicle was available to take the body to the crematorium for the last rites. The local administration too failed to provide a vehicle despite appeal from the family. At last, unwillingly the family agreed to carry the body in the 'ghanta gadi' (garbage van) of the Gram Panchayat which collects garbage.
Family of COVID victim ferries the corpse in garbage van. Read: Over 40 students, professors at XLRI Jamshedpur test positive for COVID-19
The body could not be taken to the crematorium even ten hours after the death of the patients due to non availability of vehicle. The family ran from pillar to post to arrange for a vehicle but in vain. Even in the middle of the night, the family members tried to get an ambulance but nothing was available. When they contacted the Gram Panchayat they were told that ambulance will be made available soon. On repeated calls they were asked to wait for some more time. Thus the family waited for ten hours. They finally decided to take the garbage vehicle to carry the body for last rites.
Sadly, none of the villagers turned up to help the bereaved family. No ambulance or other vehicle was available and no one came forward to help. It exposed how villages are ill-equipped to handle such a situation. The local people have to be sensitized to handle such incidents. The Gram Panchayat and the local administration have to join hands stop the disrespect towards the dead.
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