Bihar Family Forced to Carry Elderly Woman’s Body on Stretcher After PHC Denies Ambulance

Nawada, Bihar: A shocking case of negligence has come to light from the Akbarpur Primary Health Center (PHC) in Nawada district, exposing serious lapses in local health services. On Sunday night, 75-year-old Keshri Devi, wife of Ramchandra Sahni, passed away during treatment at the PHC. Following her death, the family’s request for an ambulance to transport her body was denied, forcing them to carry her nearly two kilometers on a stretcher to their home. The distressing incident was captured on camera and has since gone viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism.

Family’s Ordeal

According to the bereaved family, Keshri Devi had been admitted to the PHC after her health deteriorated. After her death, the family repeatedly requested the hospital staff to provide an ambulance to take her home. Hospital personnel allegedly refused, stating that the ambulance service was reserved only for living patients, not for transporting the deceased.

Stretcher Only Provided After Family Guarantee

The family revealed that the hospital eventually provided a stretcher only after holding the daughter-in-law and grandson as a guarantee that it would be returned. Using this stretcher, the family carried Keshri Devi’s body approximately two kilometers to their residence. The stretcher was returned late at night, after which the relatives were finally allowed to leave the hospital premises.

Keshri Devi’s son, Ajay Saw, recounted the family’s desperate pleas for help, noting that hospital staff repeatedly refused assistance. His wife had to remain at the PHC as collateral until the stretcher was returned, before the family could take the body home.

Civil Surgeon Responds

In response, Civil Surgeon Dr. Vinod Chaudhary issued a clarification, stating that the 102 ambulance service at block hospitals is meant exclusively for living patients, not for transporting corpses. He added that a hearse is available at the district hospital, and arrangements could have been made had the hospital been informed.

Defending the situation, Dr. Chaudhary claimed that since the family lived nearby, they voluntarily chose to transport the body on a stretcher.