Haridwar: Ambulance driver asks Rs 80,000 to ferry Covid body

The family members of the deceased, identified as the AGM of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, were asked to pay Rs 80,000 by an ambulance driver to preserve his body in a freezer for a night and later organise the funeral.

Haridwar: In a shameful incident, an ambulance driver in Uttarakhand's Haridwar reportedly demanded Rs 80,000 to transport the dead body of a Covid-19 patient.

The family members of the deceased, identified as the AGM of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, were asked to pay Rs 80,000 by an ambulance driver to preserve his body in a freezer for a night and later organise the funeral.

According to reports, the deceased was tested positive for coronavirus and died on Friday during treatment at Har Milap Mission Rajkiya Hospital. As the deceased's son was living in America and he was coming to perform the last rites of his father, the family asked the ambulance driver to preserve his body in his freezer accommodated vehicle.

After keeping the body for one day in his vehicle, the ambulance driver demanded Rs 80,000 to transport the body to the crematorium ground. After the deceased's wife paid the amount, the driver ferried the body to the funeral ground.

While inspecting the area, Haridwar SDM, Gopal Singh Chauhan and district administration officials reached the spot and caught the ambulance driver redhanded.

The ADM immediately called the ARTO, seized the ambulance and ordered to file a report against the ambulance driver with the concerned police station.