Non-COVID-19 Woman Denied Traditional Funeral In Rourkela

Rourkela: She died of cancer, yet the family of 42-year-old Lalmani of Bondamunda here was not allowed to perform her last rites as per tradition.  Even though she tested negative for COVID-19, her family watched from a distance as health workers, dressed in personal protective equipment cremated her body at the Vedvyas crematorium on Wednesday. Lalmani died at the Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital

A relative of the deceased, P Swamy said after she died, her family was informed they would not be allowed to take the body home and the cremation would be performed by health workers.

A senior district administration official said even though Lalmani had tested negative, precautions were taken as per guidelines to prevent any possibility of spread of the virus because the ward where she was admitted and the COVID-19 hospital are in the same building.