In a distressing event that sheds light on the deficiencies in healthcare and emergency transport in Odisha, a disadvantaged couple from Nabarangpur district had no choice but to mortgage their family ration card to transport the body of their 10-day-old baby.
The painful incident occurred when Ambika Nayak and her husband Nakula Bhatra, who live in Daleiguda village within the Papadahandi block, lost their newborn son at the Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in Koraput.
Details reveal that the baby was born prematurely at 7 months on September 29 at the Papadahandi Community Health Centre (CHC). Due to his low birth weight, the infant was initially moved to the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), and on October 5, he was transferred to the Koraput facility for more specialized care.
Tragedy struck late Thursday night when the newborn passed away while receiving treatment. In the aftermath, the devastated parents claimed that hospital staff denied them access to the government-funded Mahaprayan hearse service. Instead, they alleged that they were given insensitive alternatives: either to bury the child locally in Koraput and take a bus home or to transport the body on a motorcycle.
Desperate and financially strained, Nakula reached out to his family. With no financial means or logistical assistance available, the family was pushed to a breaking point. Ultimately, they had to mortgage their family ration card, which was the only source of support for their household of seven, to obtain a private loan.
After paying Rs 5,000 for a private ambulance, the grieving parents were finally able to bring their child’s body back to Daleiguda, where they conducted the final rites.
Residents have noted that the guidelines governing the Mahaprayan service often lead to complications in inter-district transport. As critically ill patients from Nabarangpur are frequently referred to Koraput, families often find themselves abandoned in times of crisis due to administrative neglect. Local citizens and intellectuals have condemned the incident, calling on the district administration to take action and ensure that underprivileged families can afford dignity in death.
