Thane: Family of Covid victim performs his last rites for the second time

THANE: A family from Kopri, Thane, performed the last rites of a loved one twice in a week. Following a goof-up by hospital authorities, the family cremated a stranger last week believing him to be their kin. They learnt about the mix-up on Tuesday and were relieved to know their relative was alive. But their joy proved short-lived as the 67-yearold, who was undergoing treatment for Covid, passed away on Tuesday night.

The hospital’s error has left a family in Kalwa traumatised too.On Sunday, they discovered their 72-year-old relative, admitted to the newly inagurated 1,000-bed Global Hub Hospital, was missing. They later learnt he had died on July 3 and his body was handed over to the Kopri-based family.
Launching a scathing attack on the TMC administration, MLC Niranjan Davkhare and BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said the authorities were now trying to pass the buck. The hospital has taken a statement, a copy of which is with TOI, from the Kopri-based family. The statement reads: ‘The mistake has been made by both sides. The hospital handed over another person’s body and we could not identify our relative’s body due to Covid infection.”
The family said, “The hospital is responsible for the goof-up. This should not happen to anyone.”
State health minister Rajesh Tope promised action against those responsible for the negligence.
He said to avoid such incidents in future a new body disposal protocol would be put in place. This would include verification, photographs of the deceased as well as an undertaking while handing over the body.