Sans Mahaprayan vehicle, family carries woman’s body on a stretcher for 8 km in Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: In a shocking incident, family members of a deceased woman reportedly had to carry her body on a stretcher for over 8 km due to unavailability of Mahaprayan vehicle in Sinapali block of Odisha’s Nuapada district on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Saraswati Sah (69), wife of one Lambidar Sah of Gadarmaal village under Nilaji panchayat of Sinapali block in the district.

As per reports, Saraswati fell sick and was admitted to Sinapali community health centre (CHC) in the evening where she succumbed during treatment. Family members, after being informed of her death, tried to arrange a Mahaprayan vehicle but to no avail. They alleged while the death occurred around 8 pm, no arrangement was made by hospital authorities to even arrange a private vehicle till 12 am in the midnight which compelled them to resort to a stretcher and carry the body for over 8 km back to their village.

While the incident has raised considerable anger among locals, the district administration dismissed the allegations. “All king of support was extended to the family. Since Sinapali CHC does not have a Mahaprayan vehicle, health staff arranged a private means of conveyance. But the family was instigated by some people and used the stretcher instead, despite having access to the vehicle,” said chief district medical officer Shobharani Mishra.