- By Chetna Shree
- Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Jharkhand: A shocking incident has come to light from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, where a father carried the body of his newborn in a cardboard box from a government hospital to his home. The incident has prompted authorities to launch an official inquiry into why an official ambulance was not provided for the journey to his village.
Father Carries Newborn's Body In Cardboard Box
According to news agency PTI, the man, identified as Ramakrishna Hembrom, a resident of Bangrasai village under Karaikela police station limits, had admitted his pregnant wife, Rita Tiriya, to Chakradharpur Sub-divisional Hospital for delivery on March 5. On Saturday, she gave birth, but the newborn tragically died shortly after.
Hembrom said that after the death, the hospital authorities did not provide any information about an ambulance or mortuary vehicle. Left with no other option, he placed the body of his newborn in a cardboard box and took it to his village in an e-rickshaw.
Speaking to news agency PTI, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ajoy Singh said, "We are aware of the allegation about the incident in Chakradharpur Sub Divisional Hospital. We will start a probe, and action will be taken against anyone found involved."
Authorities have launched an official inquiry into why an official ambulance was not provided for the journey to his village.
What Doctors Said?
Speaking to The Indian Express, Dr Anshuman Sharma, in-charge medical officer of Chakradharpur Sub-divisional Hospital, said the woman had been admitted to the hospital on March 5. He added that during the routine check, doctors found that the foetus had a low heart rate and the mother was also suffering from certain medical complications.
"Treatment was started, but during a routine check on the morning of March 7, the night duty staff could not detect the foetal heartbeat. She was immediately referred for an ultrasound. However, before the procedure could be done, labour pain began, and she was brought back to the sub-divisional hospital, where a stillborn baby was delivered," Sharma was quoted as saying.
Sharma said the mother was kept under observation at the hospital due to her medical condition, while the family was asked to carry out the last rites of the baby.
The doctor further said that the family did not seek any assistance from the hospital administration to transport the body. He added that the matter came to the hospital's attention later in the evening, when a video emerged showing the father carrying the body of the newborn in a cardboard box.
"As far as we know, the family left on their own. No request for an ambulance or any vehicle was made to the hospital administration. If such a request had been made, arrangements could have been provided," he added.
Sharma said that the hospital has initiated an internal inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. He also stated that the woman had reportedly been receiving treatment from an unqualified practitioner before being admitted to the Chakradharpur Sub-divisional Hospital. According to him, the family approached the sub-divisional hospital only after the condition failed to improve.