Balasore: In an act of superstitious beliefs, relatives of a man who died from snakebite Friday attempted to bring him back to life by performing sorcery and reciting mantras.
The bizarre incident took place inside the G K Bhattar hospital in the district where Siddheswar Jena of Mahisamunda village was admitted after he was bitten by a snake Thursday night. Although, he was rushed to the Jaleswar-based hospital, the doctors declared him ‘brought dead’.
In a desperate attempt to save him, relatives of Siddheswar called up a tantrik and urged him to save the deceased.
However, the sorcerer refused to come to the hospital. He said he could do it over phone too.
The family members were seen performing the rituals on the dead as directed by quack. Later, they held the mobile phone to his ears while he was reciting the mantra.
Meanwhile, the hospital authorities claimed ignorance about the matter. The incident spread resentment among other patients in the hospital.
“We received the person dead. We had also informed the family. We do not know what happened later,” said an official of the hospital.