Man carries dead wife for seven miles after hospital 'refuses transport'

An Indian man has claimed he was forced to carry his dead wife for more than seven miles after a hospital refused to transport her home.

Amang Majhi died of tuberculosis on Tuesday at the Bhawanipatna hospital in Kalahandi, a particularly deprived district in the eastern Odisha state.

But hospital staff allegedly refused to provide transport for her body to the family home in Melghara, some 37 miles away. 

Her husband Dana Majhi, a labourer, could not afford to hire a vehicle and resorted to walking with his dead wife on his shoulder, along with his daughter, Chaula.

Television footage of showed Chaula in tears as Mr Majhi walked with his wife's body, which was wrapped in cloth.

“The hospital authorities said that there are no vehicles,” Mr Majhi told local media.

“I pleaded with them saying I am a poor person and cannot afford a vehicle to carry my wife’s body. Despite repeated requests, they said they cannot offer me any help.” 

By the time the hospital was told what was happening, reportedly by the TV crew who filmed him, Mr Majhi had walked 7.5 miles with the corpse. An ambulance was sent to take the family the rest of the way. 

However, hospital officials denied Mr Majhi’s version of events.

"The woman was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday and died the same night. Her husband took away her body without informing any hospital staff," senior medical official B Brahma told the BBC.

Despite this, the images of the event provoked a public outcry in India. Odisha’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, said: "We are looking into this matter. We will take action. Fresh ambulances will be ordered."