Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 11:

The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) today issued notices to Puri Collector and I G of Police (Railways) over the incident of carrying the body of a tourist on a trolley rickshaw for cremation in Puri on Tuesday.

disrespect-to-dead

Taking into cognizance media reports on the incident, the state rights body has registered a case suo motu in the matter while directing the duo to investigate the matter and submit a report within four weeks.

It may be mentioned here that 60 tourists including one Durni Bandewada (55) from Sindhuwada district of Madhya Pradesh were on a tour to Puri.

After reaching Puri on Monday they had taken rest at a shelter near the railway station. The group had planned to go on a trip to Bhubaneswar on Tuesday when suddenly Durni developed pain in his stomach.

Other members of the group took Durni to a private hospital where doctors advised them to take him to the district headquarters hospital.

Durni succumbed to his illness while undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital.

His family members enquired from the attending doctor if there was any facility available for carrying the body to Swargadwar for cremation to which the later allegedly replied in negative.

Left with little option family members carried Durni’s body on a trolley rickshaw to Swargadwar for cremation.

As news spread of a body being taken on a trolley rickshaw for cremation, Puri sub-collector detained the trolley near the Collector’s residence and arranged for an ambulance which later carried the body to Swargadwar where Durni was cremated.