Haveri hospital swaps bodies of two Covid women

HAVERI: A Hindu family waiting to cremate their loved one was in for a shock when they realised that the body was not of their family member. The painful incident of negligence came to light on Tuesday as the bodies of the two victims belonging to two different communities were swapped at the Haveri District Covid Hospital.
The Hindu family was upset and demanded that the body be exhumed and handed over to them so that they could perform the last rites as per their tradition. But, the district hospital authorities refused to do so citing Covid protocol which does not allow the exhumation of a Covid body once it has been buried.
On Tuesday, the Muslim family claimed the body of their family member and held the last rites while the Hindu family made peace and paid their condolences at the buried site.
According to sources, a 63-year-old Muslim woman from Aladakatti village in Haveri taluk was admitted to the Haveri Covid Hospital on May 4.
On May 5, a 64-year-old Hindu woman from Neshi village in Rattihalli taluk too was admitted to the same hospital.
The body of the Hindu woman was swapped with that of the Muslim woman. When the Hindu family opened the wrap for one last look, to their shock they realised that it was not her. They ran to the hospital, only to be told that their loved one had already been cremated by the Muslim family at Aladakatti village.
“Unfortunately, it happened at the Covid ward. Action has been taken against the staff of the mortuary. An inquiry has been initiated,” said district surgeon Dr PR Havanur.