Covid-19 patient dies on road in Bengaluru, body lies unattended for hours

The body of a 65-year-old man infected with Covid-19 lay unattended for hours on the road on Friday in Hanumanthanagar, South Bengaluru, pointing to the grim reality of life in the times of the pandemic and the BBMP's apathy.

According to sources, the deceased, a resident of Gavipuram in Hanumanthanagar limits, tested positive for coronavirus and immediately called an ambulance to reach a hospital. However, according to his family members, as he waited for the ambulance for nearly three hours, he collapsed on the road in front of his house complaining of breathlessness and died.

Track live updates on coronavirus here

As the body lay unattended on the road, it began to rain heavily. Soon, videos of the body lying on the road in the heavy rain went viral on social media.

A senior doctor in charge of the division, however, told DH that the ambulance had arrived in less than half an hour but the patient had died before they reached the spot. "The patient had given samples on Thursday at KIMS and tested positive on Friday. BBMP officials informed them that they would reach his house. But the man, fearing that he may be stigmatised in the locality, began walking to the corner of the road and collapsed on the street and died," the officer said.

Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases

Another health official from Basavanagudi limits said: "As the ambulance staff do not transport the dead, they informed the hearse van, which was set to arrive in 30 minutes. But due to the sudden rain and heavy traffic ahead of the curfew hours, they were stranded for almost three hours later." The officials also said the deceased had been suffering from cardiac ailments for almost 10 years.

Regretting the incident, BBMP officials said they were helpless as was an acute shortage of hearse vans. "We were told that there were 20 deaths today and there are only eight hearse vans available. They had to shift this patient after attending to another mortality and were stuck in traffic. By then, due to the fear of infection, nobody attended to the deceased," the officer explained.

COVID-19 Pandemic Tracker: 15 countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases, deaths

BBMP commissioner B H Anil Kumar said that such incidents should not recur and ordered an investigation and sought a report. "We will ensure that such incidents do not recur," Kumar said.

Following outrage on social media, a hearse van was summoned and the body was shifted to the Victoria Hospital mortuary as per the protocol.

Police have opened a case of unnatural death.