Family cries foul as snake-bitten youth dies of Covid in Odisha

Baripada: Tension erupted at Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College & Hospital, Baripada after family members of a youth lodged protest on Friday night when authorities of the hospital denied to hand over them his body following death.

Family members of the youth, identified as Dudhiashola Manmath Singh (26) admitted him to the hospital at around 6 pm yesterday after he was bitten by a snake. However, Singh died in between 9 pm and 10 pm while undergoing treatment at the hospital. When his family members asked for the body, the hospital authorities refused to hand over the body citing that he was infected the COVID-19 virus.

One of the family members of the youth said when Singh was admitted to the hospital there were no COVID-19 symptoms in him. When did the hospital authorities carry out his COVID-19 test and why the family was kept in dark, asked the family member.

He further said if the youth had contracted the COVID-19 virus, why he was provided treatment along with other patients at the hospital instead of being shifted to a COVID hospital.

Meanwhile, hospital sources said as the youth tested positive for COVID-19, his body was not handed over to the family. The administration carried out the last rites of the youth, sources added.