Probe ordered in tribal man’s plight of not getting vehicle to

carry wife’s body Bhawanipatna (Odisha), Aug 25 (PTI) A day after atribal man had to walk 10 km carrying his wife’s body on hisshoulder in Odisha’s Kalahandi after failing to get a vehiclefrom a government hospital, a probe was today ordered toascertain the circumstances which led to the incident. "The District Collector of Kalahandi has ordered aninquiry into the incident. Sub-Collector of Bhawanipatna hasbeen directed to conduct the probe and submit a report at theearliest," state Urban Development Minister PushpendraSinghdeo, who hails from Kalahandi district, said inBhubaneswar. "Sub-Collector Sukanta Tripathy has been asked toascertain whether the tribal man, Dana Majhi, had been denieda vehicle to take his wife’s body from the hospital hereyesterday," said a senior officer. The incident took place yesterday when locals found Majhicarrying his wife Amang Dei’s body along with his 12-year-olddaughter. The 42-year-old woman had died of TB at the districtheadquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna. Majhi said despite all efforts, he failed to get anyhelp from hospital authorities and had no other alternativethan to wrap the body in a cloth and start walking to hisvillage Melghara in Rampur block, about 60 km fromBhawanipatna. Singhdeo, however, claimed an ambulance was sent fortransportation of the body of Majhi’s wife to their village assoon as the authorities concerned came to know about it. Unfortunately, the man had by then covered a distanceof around 10 km, the minister said, adding "appropriate actionwould be taken after the inquiry report is submitted". When Majhi and his daughter were walking, some localreporters spotted the duo. They called up the DistrictCollector and arranged for an ambulance for the remaining 50km. "I told the hospital authorities that I am a poor manand can’t afford a vehicle. Despite repeated requests, theysaid they can’t offer any help," Majhi told a local televisionchannel. "As we got to know of the incident, we spoke to theChief District Medical Officer and arranged for an ambulance,"Kalahandi District Collector Brundha D said. "I have instructed the Tehsildar to provide assistanceunder Harishchandra Yojana (assistance to the poor anddestitute to perform last rites). I have also asked the BDO toprovide assistance from Red Cross and CMRF," she said.PTI CORAAM SKN DKB RGCHT