odisha-family-carries-teen-s-body-for-36-hours-for-autopsy

In a distressing incident highlighting gaps in rural healthcare services, the body of a 16-year-old girl who died of a snakebite in Odisha’s Kalahandi district was carried by her family from one hospital to another for nearly 36 hours before an autopsy could be conducted.

 

The deceased, identified as Madhuri, daughter of Kalia Majhi from Sindhipada panchayat under Thuamul Rampur police limits, was bitten by a poisonous snake on Thursday night while sleeping with friends. Her condition worsened by Friday morning, following which her family rushed her to the Kalampur Community Health Centre, where doctors declared her brought dead.

 

Police personnel from Thuamul Rampur reached the facility and directed that the body be sent to Thuamul Rampur Hospital for postmortem examination. However, according to family members, doctors at the hospital refused to conduct the autopsy for reasons that remain unclear.

 

With no assistance forthcoming, the grieving family was forced to transport the body again in search of a facility that could carry out the procedure. They were informed that autopsies were not conducted at Kalampur Hospital, leaving them with no option but to travel further.

 

The body was eventually taken to Jayapatna Hospital, where the postmortem was finally conducted, nearly 36 hours after the girl’s death. “We had to travel for almost two days just to get the postmortem done,” said her father, Kalia Majhi.

 

Subrajit Biswal of Jayapatna Hospital confirmed that the autopsy was carried out there due to the lack of facilities at Kalampur. He, however, declined to comment on why doctors at Thuamul Rampur Hospital did not perform the procedure despite police directions.

 

The incident has drawn administrative attention with Kalahandi Collector Sachin Pawar ordering a probe into the matter. Officials stated that a five-member inquiry team has been constituted to investigate the circumstances and fix responsibility.

 

The episode has raised serious concerns about access to basic medical and forensic services in remote regions. The prolonged delay in conducting the autopsy not only added to the family’s grief but also delayed the girl’s last rites.