Elderly woman's body remains unattended overnight at Bishalgarh Hospital

A distressing incident has cast a spotlight on the effectiveness of local authorities as Kanak Prabha Pal, an elderly resident of Champamura area under Bishalgarh police station, faced a nightmarish ordeal following her sudden demise on Saturday.

The unfortunate series of events commenced when Kanak Prabha Pal was rushed to Bishalgarh hospital by her family after a severe illness. After a physical examination, doctors on duty pronounced her dead and recommended an autopsy. Seeking police intervention for the required procedure, the family approached Bishalgarh Women Police Station.

To their dismay, upon arriving late on Saturday night, the family found the police station deserted, with officers asleep. Despite efforts to wake them and seek assistance, the police failed to respond promptly. In their commitment to comply with authorities, the family returned to the hospital, expecting the police to arrive. However, as the night unfolded without any police presence, they made the difficult decision to cremate the deceased woman's body.

Adding to the tragedy, Kanak Prabha Pal's body lay unattended on the hospital balcony throughout the night, guarded solely by private security personnel. The hospital authorities, seemingly unaware of the situation, anticipated the body to be placed in the hospital morgue.

Sunday morning brought no relief as the family discovered that the police from Vishalgarh Mahila Police Station had not arrived until 9 am. The lack of coordination between the police and hospital authorities has triggered widespread outrage among health workers and the deceased woman's family.

The incident has prompted questions about governance standards, with citizens expressing dismay over the apparent negligence by both the police and hospital authorities. It underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive review of response mechanisms to handle such situations, leaving the public questioning whom to trust in times of crisis.

While criticism is directed at the hospital staff and the police, the two private security guards exhibited humanity by staying with the deceased woman's body during the night. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibilities of authorities and the pressing need for improved protocols to ensure a more efficient and compassionate response to such situations in the future.