COVID Patient’s Death: Family Alleges Organ Theft In Odisha’s Gajapati District

Paralakhemundi: Tension erupted at Rajasitapur COVID hospital in Odisha’s Gajapati district after a death patient infected with the virus died on Friday. Alleging negligence, the patient’s relatives also misbehaved the medical staff.

The COVID-affected patient is a resident of Almaida village under Buma block and was admitted to the COVID hospital on June 4. His relatives said till June 10 he was doing well but his condition suddenly deteriorated and he was reported dead.

On learning about the death, irate villagers raised a furore and demanded that the body be shown to them immediately, failing which they threatened to sit on dharna.

The relatives demanded that they wanted to see for themselves if the body has been operated upon for taking out liver, eyes, kidney and other organs. They alleged that as the remains of corona affected persons are packed in polythenes, they suspect foul play.

District Emergency officer, Saroj Behera, however, brushed aside the allegations and said there is no foul play and body will be handed over to the relatives. The family has to follow COVID protocol to dispose of the body.

Behera said a committee has been formed to ascertain the reason of death and added that no negligence has come to his notice regarding the person’s death.