In a deeply distressing incident highlighting gaps in public healthcare, a tribal family was forced to carry the body of their four-month-old child in a plastic bag after a government hospital failed to provide transport facilities in Chaibasa.
The incident occurred at Sadar Hospital Chaibasa, where Dimba Chatomba, a resident of Baljori village under Noamundi block, had brought his ailing infant for treatment on Thursday. The child’s condition deteriorated and he died during treatment on Friday afternoon.
Family waits for hours, no help provided
After the child’s death, the family requested hospital authorities to arrange a vehicle to transport the body back to their village. According to relatives and eyewitnesses, they waited for several hours, but no arrangement was made.
With no assistance forthcoming and lacking resources, the family was left with no option but to return on their own. Dimba reportedly had only ₹100 with him. He bought a plastic bag for ₹20 from a nearby shop and placed his son’s body inside it.
“With the remaining money, he paid the bus fare from Chaibasa to Noamundi and travelled carrying the child’s body,” said a hospital attendant, requesting anonymity. From Noamundi, Dimba would still have to walk to his village, Bada Baljori.
Hospital cites lack of hearse availability
Hospital authorities, however, denied negligence. Chaibasa Civil Surgeon Dr Bharti Minj said the hospital does not provide ambulances for transporting deceased persons.
“There is a separate hearse service, and we have only one vehicle for the entire district. It was at Manoharpur at the time. We asked the family to wait for two more hours, but they chose to leave,” she said.
Dr Minj added that the child was admitted with breathing problems on Thursday evening. Doctors had advised referral to a higher medical centre, but the father declined. The infant died at around 1.15 pm on Friday.
Health minister orders probe
The incident has sparked outrage, with many calling it a reflection of administrative insensitivity towards poor and tribal families. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari assured that an inquiry would be conducted.
“If something like this has indeed happened to a tribal family, a probe will be ordered and strict action will be taken against those responsible,” Ansari said.
The episode has once again raised urgent questions about dignity in death, rural healthcare infrastructure and the accountability of public hospitals towards the most vulnerable sections of society.