In a distressing incident that has triggered outrage, a tribal man in Jharkhand was forced to travel on a public bus carrying the body of his four-month-old son in a plastic bag after he was denied ambulance services by a government hospital.
The infant was admitted to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital in West Singhbhum district on Thursday with fever and died during treatment on Friday. After the child’s death, the father, identified as Timba, requested hospital authorities to provide a vehicle to transport the body to his village, located around 70 kilometres away.
Despite waiting for several hours, no ambulance was arranged. With barely Rs.100 left and no support from the hospital, Timba purchased a plastic bag from a nearby shop for Rs.20 and placed his son’s body inside it. He then bought a bus ticket from Chaibasa to Noamundi and travelled holding the bag. After alighting at Noamundi, he walked the remaining distance to his village.
Family members alleged that the hospital staff showed complete negligence and failed to offer any assistance to the bereaved father. Hospital officials, however, claimed that the ambulance was on another assignment and that Timba left the hospital premises despite being asked to wait for about two more hours.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari said an inquiry has been ordered into the incident and assured that strict action would be taken against those found guilty.
