Phulbani: A staff nurse and an attendant of Phulbani district headquarters hospital in Odisha’s Kandhamal district were suspended on Friday after a video of a man carrying the body of his wife went viral on social media.
A help desk employee was also dismissed from service following a probe ordered by Kandhamal CDMO Rajashree Patnaik.
According to sources, Balakrushna Kanhar of Motingia village under Phiringia block had admitted his wife Rutumati Kanhar (40), who was anaemic, to the hospital on June 29 for treatment.
However, her condition worsened on July 1 and she died in the evening after suffering a cardiac arrest.
After completing the formalities, Balakrushna sought the Mahaprayan hearse vehicle to carry his wife’s body for the last rites. The health workers, however, allegedly refused to extend any help in carrying the body to the vehicle fearing COVID infection.
Balakrushna alleged that his repeated requests for help went unheard.
Left with no option, he carried her body from the top floor of the hospital to the vehicle all alone.
The administration swung into action and ordered a probe after the video went viral, showing the apathy of the hospital and onlookers towards the hapless man.
Watch the video here:
