‘Dead’ man asks for water from pall-bearers

A mental-ill patient, declared dead by a private hospital, got up while being taken out for last rites and asked for water to the astonishment of mourners at Mankundu in Hooghly district on Sunday.

As bewildered family members looked on and some mourners ran away in fear, Apurba Chakroborty (60) asked what the fuss was all about and demanded water, his brother Subhas said.

Earlier, a death certificate was issued and an unconscious Mr. Chakroborty was taken out on a hearse from the hospital premises.

Charge against hospital

Mr. Subhas, who claimed to have been earlier informed by the hospital that his brother was dead, alleged that the hospital authorities had asked the death certificate be returned to hush up the matter.

The hospital refused to comment on the incident.

The family, hailing from north Kolkata, then took Mr. Chakroborty to another mental hospital in the metropolis and threatened action against the Mankundu asylum, where he was treated earlier.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Department Bhusan Chakroborty, however, said the authorities had no control over the private unit.

“No licence”

“No licence has been issued by State authorities to it and the patients’ families are admitting them at their own risk,” he claimed.

Police said no complaint has been lodged against the hospital.