Lakhanpur: In yet another chilling reminder to the Dana Majhi episode, a woman was forced to carry the body of her eight-year-old daughter on her shoulder and walk more than 1km after she failed to get a hearse here in Jharsuguda district Friday.
According to sources, Miniati, daughter of Bhaskar Panchabhaya and Anjali of Remanda, was affected by diarrhoea Thursday night. Family members admitted her to the OPGC Project Hospital Friday morning where doctors declared her brought dead.
The girl’s parents were taken aback on hearing the news as Anjali inconsolably kept crying in the hospital while Bhaskar pleaded with hospital authorities to arrange a hearse, but in vain.
Left with no option, Anjali shouldered the girl’s body and began walking to the village which is 12 km away while Bhaskar was seen consoling her all the way. The couple walked more than a kilometre before they were spotted by media persons who provided them water and inquired on their plight.
On learning their plight, the media persons contacted the medical authorities and demanded for a hearse to shift the body. Police rushed to the spot after the incident spread tension in the area.
After more than two hours of wait, a hearse from the local municipality reached the spot and shifted the body. All the while, the girl’s parents were seen sobbing. No medical authorities reached there to take stock of the situation.
A senior officer of the company said they could not provide a hearse as they do not have one. CDMO Damayanti Sahu said a probe into the incident was on.
On the other hand, collector Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik said the company authorities should have contacted the administration for a hearse if they did not have the vehicle.
Necessary action will be taken after a probe, he added. PNN
