A disturbing video showing family members carrying the body of a 15-year-old tribal girl on foot from a hospital in the Bahadurpur area of Ashoknagar district, Madhya Pradesh, went viral on social media, prompting swift administrative action. The incident, which reportedly took place on Saturday night, 3 May 2025, has sparked widespread outrage over the state of basic mortuary and ambulance services in rural Madhya Pradesh.

What Happened at Bahadurpur Hospital

The 15-year-old tribal girl died by suicide on Saturday night and was brought to the Bahadurpur hospital for a post-mortem examination. According to officials, the family waited for several hours for a vehicle to transport the body, but no arrangement was made by the hospital. With no hearse or ambulance forthcoming, family members wrapped the body in a sheet and began carrying it on foot. Local residents later helped arrange a private vehicle to take the body to the family's village.

Collector Orders Inspection, Caretaker Removed

Collector Saket Malviya visited Bahadurpur hospital late Sunday night to assess the situation firsthand. Following his direction, officials conducted a detailed inspection of the hospital premises, including the post-mortem facility, and gathered information about the circumstances leading to the incident. A preliminary inquiry revealed prima facie negligence on the part of the post-mortem in-charge. Acting on the inspection team's recommendation, the hospital caretaker was removed from duty as a disciplinary measure.

Government Protocol and Accountability

Collector Malviya emphasised that established government protocols mandate the dignified handling and transportation of deceased persons. He stated that if a hearse vehicle is unavailable at a hospital, arrangements must be made from alternate sources without delay. He further instructed officials to assign clear responsibility to hospital staff to prevent such incidents in the future. A senior officer in the Ashoknagar district administration confirmed these details to news agency IANS on Monday.

Political Backlash and Broader Concerns

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari criticised the state government, alleging failure to provide even basic ambulance services and questioning the utilisation of funds allocated for such facilities. The incident has reignited concerns about the availability of essential health infrastructure in rural and tribal areas of the state. Notably, this is not an isolated complaint — access to mortuary transport and post-mortem services in remote districts has been a recurring issue flagged by health advocates.

What Comes Next

The district administration has indicated that further disciplinary proceedings against the post-mortem in-charge are under consideration. With political pressure mounting and the video continuing to circulate widely, authorities face scrutiny over whether systemic corrective measures — beyond individual accountability — will follow.