Archive · 21 Dec 2025
Adivasi Family Carries Baby’s Body in Vegetable Bag
A poor family in Jharkhand had to carry their baby's body home in a vegetable bag because there was no ambulance available.
The baby died in the hospital, and the family asked for a special van to take the body home, but they were told there wasn't one.
The hospital staff gave them a bag to put the baby in, which made people very angry.
The government said they will buy more vans so this doesn't happen again.
The family had to travel a long way home with the baby in the bag.
An Adivasi family in Jharkhand was forced to carry their deceased four-month-old baby's body in a vegetable bag due to the unavailability of a mortuary van.
The incident occurred on December 19 after the baby died at Sadar Hospital in West Singhbhum district.
Hospital staff allegedly pooled money to buy a vegetable bag and instructed the family to use it to transport the body home, about 80 km away.
The state government announced corrective measures, including the procurement of four mortuary vehicles for every district hospital at a cost of Rs 15 crore.
Health Minister Irfan Ansari claimed an inquiry found that two mortuary vehicles were available, one of which was non-functional due to technical reasons, while the other was en route.
- Who
- Adivasi Ho family from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district
- What
- Forced to carry their deceased four-month-old baby's body in a vegetable bag due to unavailability of a mortuary van
- When
- December 19
- Where
- Bala Barijori village, West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand
- Why
- Extreme poverty, poor last-mile connectivity, and gaps in India's healthcare system
- Location
- Bala Barijori village, West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand
- Date of Incident
- December 19
- Family's Request
- Mortuary van for transporting the baby's body
- Alternative Provided
- Vegetable bag
- Distance to Home
- 80 km
- Government Response
- Announced procurement of four mortuary vehicles per district hospital
- Cost of Procurement
- Rs 15 crore
- Health Minister's Claim
- Two mortuary vehicles were available, one non-functional, one en route