Buguda: In a shocking incident, family members of a man who died of fever carried his body on a trolley-rickshaw to the crematorium after relatives and neighbours did not turn out to participate in his last rites due to stigma associated with COVID-19 here in Ganjam district, Monday.
The deceased was a 35-year-old hotel owner of Buguda town. He was suffering from fever for the last one week and undergoing treatment at home.
He passed away Monday. His family members informed his friends, relatives and neighbours about his death but none came out to participate in his cremation.
Left with no option, his family hired a trolley-rickshaw and carried the body to the cremation ground. His family said as his swab samples were not sent for test, relatives suspected that he died due to Covid-19.
A local said eight people have died in the last eight days in Buguda town after suffering from fever. There is panic among the residents following these deaths.
Earlier, a similar case was reported from this district.
Dr Subhasis Panigrahi of Buguda community health centre (CHC) said none of those declared dead here had undergone treatment in the CHC. He advised people having fever to not conceal their disease and take medical consultation for treatment.
PNN