E-Paper
Covid victim’s kin die at cremation site, probe ordered
A magisterial probe has been ordered after two relatives of a covid victim died before the latter’s cremation in Jammu on Thursday.
A magisterial probe has been ordered after two relatives of a covid victim died before the latter’s cremation in Jammu on Thursday.
The victim’s family alleged that amid scorching heat, the two men in their 40s, were made to shuttle in an ambulance for a suitable cremation site near Tawi riverbed for hours. Both the relatives were declared brought dead at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu on Thursday evening.
On Thursday, Jammu recorded maximum temperature of 40°C.
A senior GMCH doctor said, “Three relatives of the deceased fell unconscious. Two of them were brought dead to the hospital. The cause of deaths will be known only after autopsy. We will also test them for Covid-19.”
PLEADED FOR WATER, WERE ABUSED: NEPHEW
Amit Jadoo, victim’s nephew, who was present at the cremation, said: “Our uncle died late Wednesday and this morning we got a call from the tehsildar who asked us to reach GMCH.”
“At 11am, we went to the hospital but no health staff accompanied us. We were taken to Sidhra on the bank of Tawi river. As no proper cremation site was identified, they kept moving ambulance from one spot to another. After a while, they asked us to take the body to the riverbed. While wearing PPE kits, we started moving towards the riverbed --- that was at least at a distance of 500m --- with the body. Halfway there, we felt dehydrated and pleaded the cops for water. They, however, abused us. The ADC was there but did not help us,” alleged Jadoo.
“Three of my relatives fainted. I took one of them to the hospital and gave him CPR on the way. He revived but the other two died. Though the ambulance driver helped us, officials were just giving us orders sitting 200m away. We were treated like untouchables,” said Jadoo.
“The GMCH administration had provided 10 PPE kits for family members and four relatives to attend the cremation,” said a doctor. “It is the job of the administration to ensure quick and hassle-free cremation of Covid-19 victims. Our job is to provide ambulance, driver, health staff, and PPE kits,” he added.
DC RUBBISHES CHARGES
Jammu district commissioner Sushma Chauhan has denied the charges that the ambulance kept moving from one place to another to look for a suitable place for cremation. “The cause of deaths can be established only after the autopsy. There was no inordinate delay in the cremation of the covid victim. The two relatives had fainted there and nobody had anticipated this situation,” she said. “I have ordered a magisterial probe to look into the circumstances of the death of the two people. The ADC is to submit his report by June 22,” she said.
