Dana Majhi, a tribal man from Odisha’s Kalahandi district, had to carry his deceased wife over his shoulders for 12 kilometres, as the hospital she was admitted to refused to provide an ambulance or mortuary van. Majhi’s wife, Amang Dei, was a tuberculosis patient at the government hospital in Bhawanipatna when she died of her illness on Wednesday morning. He requested the hospital authorities to help him take his wife’s body to their home in Melghar village, 60 kilometres away, but in vain. Following this, he wrapped his wife’s body in a cloth and decided to walk the distance to his village, with his 12-year old daughter by his side. After walking for nearly 12 kilometres, Majhi was spotted by some youths who appear to have alerted the press. A camera crew from Odisha TV soon tracked him down and informed the local authorities. Finally, an ambulance was sent which took the body to Melghar.

While Majhi claims that he decided to carry his wife after exhausting all other options, Kalahandi district collector Brundha D told the Indian Express that he did not wait long enough for a vehicle to be arranged. Nevertheless, Majhi has been given Rs 2,000 under the state’s funeral assistance scheme and another Rs 10,000 from the District Red Cross Fund, according to IE.