Due to non-availability of ambulance a body being taken for post-mortem in an autorickshaw
By Gur Randhawa
Tarn Taran, August 3, 2020: The death toll caused by consumption of spurious liquor has climbed to 78 in this district.
Many families have cremated bodies without informing the authorities and getting post-mortem done while delay in post-mortem of 14 bodies lying at Civil Hospital has added to the anguish of the families.
When contacted, civil surgeon Dr. Anoop Kumar said the 14 bodies were brought to the hospital on Sunday and by today evening the bodies will be handed over to the families after post-mortem.
One of the victims was Manjit Singh (45), resident of village Sanghe. He was disabled and used to ply a rickshaw to make a living. His wife and son, who is 16, are disabled and mentally retarded.
Manjit’s widow said he came home on Friday night after consuming spurious liquor and his health suddenly deteriorated. He died at a government hospital on Saturday morning.
Manjit's widow and son
The family doesn’t have money to perform Manjit’s last rites. Villagers say both the wife and the son can’t earn due to their disability and mental retardation.
The villagers have sought financial help for them from the administration.
All the people who have died in this tragedy are from very poor families and most don’t have any form of transportation and because of non-availability of ambulances, families of the victims had to hire vehicles to take bodies for post-mortem.
The families have alleged that the mortuary doesn’t have ice to preserve the bodies and they are being charged Rs 200 per body for ice.
According to Tarn Taran SSP Dhruman Nimbale more than a dozen persons have been arrested in this regard and search is on for the rest.