Koraput: In a replay of the heart-wrenching tale of ‘Dana Majhi’, a 35-year-old tribal man from Odisha’s Koraput district had to walk with his wife’s body on shoulder for several kilometres in Andhra Pradesh due to lack of money.
Some police officials of Andhra Pradesh spotted Samulu Pangi and arranged an ambulance to take the body of his wife Ide Guru (30) to his village – Surada in Pottangi block of Koraput, sources said.
Pangi had admitted his ailing wife at a hospital in Sangivalasa in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. However, the doctors there said she was not responding to treatment and advised him to take her back home, around 100 kilometres away.
After Pangi hired an auto-rickshaw proceeded towards his village, Guru died midway near Vizianagaram. The auto driver then refused to continue the journey and dropped them on Chelluru Ring Road before leaving the spot.
Left with no other option, Pangi said he started walking towards home, which was still around 80 kilometres away, carrying his wife’s body on his shoulder.
He was later stopped by police officials, who spotted the man after being alerted by locals. The police officials, after ascertaining what had happened, arranged for an ambulance that took Pangi and his wife’s body to his village.
While Pangi thanked the police for their help, the local people appreciated their timely response.
The tale of Pandi came as reminder of a 2016 incident Kalahandi district when another man, Dana Majhi, walked for over 12 ks carrying the body of his wife on his shoulder after being denied a hearse by a hospital. The incident hit international headlines and caused embarrassment for the state government.
