26-year-old deceased's family struggles to get body from hospital

Kin of the 26-year-old Ram Swaroop, who died of illness on Tuesday, are a harried lot, as they have not received his body.

Ram Swaroop's wife Hemanta Devi has accused the staff of Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib (charitable) Hospital of not handing over the body, as she had failed to pay the pending treatment fee. She, along with other kin, met the deputy commissioner (DC) on Thursday and requested him to look into the matter.

The deceased's wife in her complaint to the DC alleged that his husband was working in a private company in Jandiali, and he was ill, but the company officials did not allow him to take rest. Her husband was forcefully called to the office on June 6 when his condition got deteriorated after unbearable pain in stomach, she alleged.

Later, on the same day, Swaroop was admitted to the hospital by the company staff, she claimed. "My husband died on June 17. I have borrowed money for his treatment, but around `15,000 fee is still pending. The hospital staff had asked to submit the pending fee, after which the body will be handed over to us."

Deceased's brother Durgesh Chauhan said, "I came from Nepal to see my brother. Now, they are not giving us the body. The company where my brother was working is also not supporting us. The company authorities have not even contacted us to pay his pending salary and other funds."

Samajwadi party leader, RK Yadav, claimed that Swaroop's family was very poor and they were not in a condition to pay hospital's pending bill.

"It is the responsibility of the company, for which Swaroop was working. We have complained to DC Rajat Agarwal, who has marked the case to additional deputy commissioner of police-4," yadav said.

When contacted, GTB (C) Hospital medical superintendent RS Sodhi said, "The matter is not in my knowledge. But our staff has never denied to handover the body. But, I will look into the matter."