Family Made To Wait Outside Home With Dead Body For 7 Hours By Neighbours

In an unfortunate case that surfaced recently, a 54-year-old woman who lost her fight against coronavirus saw struggle even in death. The woman, Parbati Sau, was a resident of Howrah's Agrasen Street and died on her way to the hospital on Monday. Her neighbours reportedly refused to let her family take her dead body inside her apartment.

According to TOI, her body was kept outside the building for seven hours as the family waited for a hearse from Howrah Municipal Corporation.

Also read: Hospital Security Guard Allegedly Hit With Bricks By Neighbours For 'Spreading' COVID-19

TOI (Representational image)

Parbati Sau lived in one of Howrah's containment zones and her death has come three days after Satyabala ID hospital collected her swab samples and sent her home after prescribing some medication. Her condition deteriorated on Sunday night and the family set out with her for Belur State General Hospital on Monday morning during which time she passed away. When her family returned home with her dead body, neighbours in their apartment complex refused to let them enter.

Parbati Sau's eldest son, Ghanashyam Sau said, ¡°On Thursday night, my mother had fever, cough and breathlessness. We suspected she had Covid and took her to Satyabala ID (Covid) Hospital on Friday morning. The doctors examined her and collected her swab samples. They then handed us some medicines and asked us to take her home. But, her condition later deteriorated.¡±

Also read: Man Packed COVID-19 Positive Father's Dead Body All Alone, Even Authorities Didn't Help

AFP (Representational image)

¡°On Sunday night, her breathing problem increased. On Monday morning, we took her to Belur State General Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. We returned with my mother. On reaching our building, neighbours refused to let us take her body inside our flat. She lay outside the building. This being a containment zone, we called HMC for a hearse. But we kept waiting and there was no sign of a hearse. Neighbours turned more restive, saying keeping her body outside for long could spread infection,¡± Sau added

The family contacted former councillor Kalash Mishra. He said, ¡°I reached the spot and called the HMC. But the hearse reached an hour later. I was told the family had waited for six hours for the hearse before my arrival.¡±

An HMC official said, ¡°HMC headquarters is in a containment zone and there is staff shortage now. Hence, there was delay in sending the hearse.¡± Howrah CMOH Bhabani Dassaid, ¡°I will inquire what happened at Satyabala hospital.¡±

Also read: Even Dangerous After Death? Scientists Report 1st Case Of Coronavirus Spreading From Dead Body

Daniel McBane (Representational image)

There have been several incidents where people have caused inconvenience and pain to others with regard to COVID-19 and our only request to everyone is that these are trying times - we should try our best to make things easier for people - not cause them more pain.