A video circulating on social media shows family members transporting a teenage girl’s body on foot from a hospital in Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh. The incident prompted swift action from the district administration, with Collector Saket Malviya personally visiting the hospital to investigate. Following the Collector’s directives, officials conducted a thorough inspection of the hospital, particularly the post-mortem facility, to understand the circumstances.
Preliminary investigations suggest negligence by the post-mortem in-charge, leading to the removal of the hospital caretaker from duty as recommended by the inspection team. The Collector stressed the importance of dignified handling and transportation of deceased individuals as per government protocols. He emphasized the need for immediate arrangements from alternative sources if a hearse vehicle is unavailable at a hospital, instructing clear responsibilities for hospital staff to prevent such incidents in the future.
The incident involved a 15-year-old tribal girl who died by suicide and was taken to the hospital for post-mortem examination. Despite waiting for hours for transportation, the family had to resort to carrying the body on foot before local residents helped arrange a private vehicle. This event has sparked outrage and highlighted concerns about the accessibility of essential health services in rural areas, drawing criticism from Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari for the alleged failure to provide basic ambulance services and questioning the utilization of allocated funds for such facilities.
