Denied ambulance, differently abled youth carries father's body on cart

In yet another incident reflecting the state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh, a differently abled youth had to carry his father's body on a cycle cart to his village, which was 8 km away from the hospital, after being refused an ambulance in the state's Barabanki district, about 40 km from here.

As the differently abled youth was unable to paddle the cart, he had to pull it like a handcart.

His 10-year-old sister lent a helping hand by pushing the cart from behind, making things somewhat easier for him.

Mansa Ram (50), a resident of Loni Katra village in the district, who had been ailing for the past few months, had been brought to the community health centre at Trivediganj for treatment on Monday by a few people.

Ram breathed his last a little later in the hospital.

Rajkumar pleaded for an ambulance to take the body home but was told that it could not be provided.

After waiting there for a few hours, Rajkumar and his sister decided to carry their dead father on a cycle cart. It took them several hours to reach their village, reports said.

Chief medical superintendent of the health centre Mukund Patel said that he had gone to attend a meeting at the district headquarters and was not present at the CHC on Monday.

Earlier also, there have been instances where bodies had to be carried on cycle or cots all the way home from the hospitals in the state, owing to non-availability or refusal to provide ambulances.