Funeral procession made to pass through water, admin promised but boat didn't arrive

Mukesh Pandey

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL/HARDA: People risked their lives, passing though deep waters, during the funeral procession of a youth.

The body was carried to a long distance as the administration couldn't provide assistance despite earlier assurance.

The incident has been reported from Pidgaon in Harda district in Madhya Pradesh.

Rahul Dharmik, 22, who was suffering from fever, died on Sunday. However, ue to heavy rains, locals were unable to take the body to crematorium. As the area has witnessed heavy rains and it was flooded, the officials were urged to provide assistance. 

In fact, assurance was given that the boat would be brought from Handia. It was extremely risky but when officials stopped responding to phone calls and no help came, locals took the risk and went through water. 

Rahul's mother Kusum Bai, a Dalit, works as a cook in the community kitchen. Locals said that family didn't have adequate money to take Rahul away for better treatment. In Pidgaon, no one eats until the last rites of a person are over.

Hence, people didn't touch foot till Monday afternoon, until the last rites were performed. This is not the first such instance. In the past too, people have been forced to take the bodies through water, in the State.

Now the district administration has announced a financial assitance of Rs 2 lakh to Rahul's mother Kusum. Also, Collector S Viswanathan has issued notice to the secretary and the officials concerned. Clarification has been sought from those responsible and also probe ordered into the role of a janpad CEO.