After waiting for 18 hours, kin in Raigarh district take body on rickshaw for post-mortem

A family in Raigarh district was forced to carry the body of a lightning victim on a cycle rickshaw for post-mortem, as no arrangements were made for over 18 hours despite the police being informed about it. The district administration on Thursday gave Rs 4 lakh as compensation to the family.

Ramlal Rathia was killed after lightning struck Bhendra village of Gharghoda block on Tuesday afternoon. While the family informed the police of the death at 4 pm, a police team only arrived at 10 am the next day, family members claimed.

When the family asked that arrangements be made to carry the body to the hospital, 4 kilometres away, for post-mortem, the police told family members to make their own arrangements, they claimed.

The Congress has formed a six-member committee to look into the “government apathy and insensitivity in the case”. While the district administration said the family members decided “on their own” to use the rickshaw, the state government announced Rs 10,000 to cover the expenses of last rites.