Keonjhar: A man had to carry the body of his son, who died of snakebite, in an auto-rickshaw due to the unavailability of a hearse at the Keonjhar headquarters hospital, reports said Sunday. Observers said that poor people often have to cough up more from their pocket and rent a vehicle to take home the body of their deceased kin as the Health Department has never spared a thought to address the problem. Sources said that Ganeswar Juang, 12, son of Bhimasen Juang in Talasumatha village under Banspal block, was bitten by a poisonous snake late Saturday night.
Family members rushed him to the district headquarters hospital where he underwent treatment. However, the boy succumbed to the snakebite at 8.35 am Sunday despite best efforts given by the doctors to treat him. Town police registered a case and handed over the body to the family members after conducting a post-mortem. The hospital authorities did not arrange a hearse to send the body home despite Talasumatha village being only 30 km from the district headquarters of Keonjhar. Left with no option, the poor tribal hired an auto-rickshaw at Rs 1,100 and carried the body of his dead son to his native village and conducted the cremation. When contacted, CDMO KC Prusty said he would enquire about the matter from the concerned officials and take necessary steps so that such incidents do not recur in the future.