Body left at doorstep amid Covid-19 fear in Karnataka

MANDYA: The body of a 55-year-old woman, who died following Covid-like symptoms, was left unattended for hours at her doorstep in Shettihalli in Malavalli taluk, before district officials stepped in under pressure from villagers.
Shivamma had returned from Bengaluru on April 16 after visiting her daughters and developed symptoms soon after. She underwent a Covid-19 test on April 19 and was awaiting results.
Villagers draped body but didn’t conduct last rites
Vcondition illagers said deteriorated Shivamma on ’s Saturday as she developed breathlessness. Around 9am, they called an ambulance to take her to hospital but she died midway. The ambulance staff returned to the village, placed her body on the portico of her house and left. Some villagers draped Shivamma’s body and put a garland on it but fearing she had died of Covid, nobody stepped forward to do the last rites. Shivamma’s two daughters also arrived soon after but neither was prepared to conduct the funeral.
Over the next 4-5 hours, villagers said they approached health officials to conduct the last rites as per Covid protocol but were turned away. Around noon, following vociferous objections from villagers, district officials conducted the burial with Covid safety protocol.