A heartbreaking scene unfolded in Jharsuguda district when a family carried a woman’s body home on a motorcycle after failing to get a hearse from Mundrajor Community Health Centre.
On Sunday morning, Yamuna Chhatria of Udiapali village in Bhatalida panchayat died suddenly. Her husband Naresh Chhatria and relatives rushed to the local CHC for support. However, the hospital had no hearse vehicle available. With no option left, the family placed the body on a bike and transported it back to their village.
The incident exposed the fragile state of rural healthcare services in Jharsuguda. Villagers expressed outrage, demanding immediate action from the administration and the state government. They urged authorities to provide a hearse vehicle at Mundrajor CHC to prevent such distressing situations in the future.
Local residents said the absence of basic facilities reflects negligence toward rural communities. They stressed that healthcare infrastructure must prioritise dignity in death as much as treatment in life.
The incident has sparked widespread debate on the need for better medical logistics in Odisha’s villages. Residents continue to press for urgent reforms to ensure that no family faces such indignity again.
