Koraput: In a replay of the Dana Majhi incident, wherein a farmer from Odisha’s Kalahandi district, walked 10 km with his wife’s body in August 2016, a man was seen carrying his wife’s dead body on his shoulders in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh along the border Pattangi block of Koraput district in Odisha on Wednesday.
According to reports, Guru and his wife from Pattangi block were working as daily labourers in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatna. Some days back, Guru’s wife fell ill and was admitted to a private hospital in Sagarbalsa. The woman’s condition deteriorated during treatment and she succumbed to her ailment on Wednesday morning.
Devastated over his wife’s death, Guru decided to take her body to his native village for the last rites. He discussed his plans with the hospital authorities and sought their help to transport his wife’s body to Pattangi. However, the hospital authorities did nothing to help Guru and even refused to provide him with hearsay.
A hapless Guru went around and contacted various persons for help but to no avail. Having spent all his savings on his wife’s treatment, he had no money to hire a car. Finding no option, Guru decided to carry his wife’s body on his shoulders all the way to his village. Soon, he left the hospital with his wife’s body on his shoulders and left for his native village.
Many people were shocked to witness the rare sight of a man carrying his wife’s body on his shoulders on the national highway, but none came forward to offer help. After walking for about 33 km, some people spotted him near Vijayanagar and informed the local police. Soon, the police arrived at the scene and interrogated the Guru. After learning that he was carrying his wife’s body due to lack of money, Vijayanagar Rural Police SI Kiran Kumar extended a helping hand. He instantly arranged an ambulance to send the dead body to Guru’s native village.
When contacted, police authorities at Sunki and Pattangi feigned ignorance about the incident. On the other hand, the incident has stirred the public, while the humanitarian gesture of Andhra Police has been appreciated by all.
