For the authorities he was just a body: Family of deceased migrant worker

Harish Chander

The family of a migrant worker, Harish Chander, who died last year in May after running 30-km in scorching heat in a desperate attempt to catch a migrant special train, has been living solely on the help provided by his brother. Both his and his brother's family blame the Maharashtra government, as Chander's body was not preserved and highly decomposed and hence they could not even see his mortal remains.

Chander is survived by two sons, Akhil, 14, and Lakshya, 10, and wife Pavita who stay in Jhunjhuna district of Rajasthan. "He would earn money in Mumbai and send it to run the house. But after he passed away, his younger brother Jaiprakash has been looking after us. Had he not supported us, we could have been left with no option but to commit suicide, as I am illiterate," said Pavita while talking to mid-day. She and her kids stay near her brother-in-law, Jaiprakash Jangir's house. She regrets that she could not see the mortal remains of her husband as the body was highly decomposed, ‘thanks to the Maharashtra state government,' she said.

Chander's kids Akhil, 14 and Lakshya, 10, and his wife Pavita are being looked after by his brother

Chander died on May 14 near Sun City ground in Vasai where he had almost reached to catch the train during the lockdown. He used to work as a carpenter and stayed at Bhayander. His body was kept in a morgue at Virat Nagar in Virar West. But the air conditioning system at the morgue conked off and due to the bodies, a terrible smell emanated in the surroundings.

"They could not keep my husband's body preserved for five days at the mortuary. It is a shame on the medical facility of Vasai and Virar. It was my right to see his body. The lockdown has ruined me completely," Pavita added.

‘Will educate his kids'
Harish had brought up his brother as their father had passed away. Jaiprakash Jangir who is a former sailor in the Indian Navy, said, "Harish helped me get into the Indian Navy. He was a father figure to me. I have been doing nothing for his wife and children compared to what he did for me. Both his children are mine and I will educate them to the best of my capacity."

Jangir further added that the children are still quiet and numb after the death of their father. "The state government is solely responsible for the untimely death of my brother and not keeping his body preserved even for five days at the morgue," he said.

‘Complete failure'
"After learning that my brother died in Vasai on May 14, I took administrative approval from local bodies in Rajasthan for my road journey in the lockdown. I got the order on May 15 evening. But the next day, I learnt that the body will be given to the relatives only after ascertaining the COVID status, for which they would collect the samples. On May 16, I left my hometown and reached Virar on the evening of May 17 after a 13,500-km road journey," he recalled.

"When I reached the morgue and spoke to the doctors, they told me that they have not taken the sample for COVID test. Instead they forced me to conduct the last rites in Virar. But I was firm on bringing the body to my hometown," he added.

After Jangir insisted, the doctors collected a sample for the COVID test on May 18 and the report came negative next day. "I collected the body on May 19 and travelled to my hometown. The body was highly decomposed and we did not allow anyone to see it. It was complete failure on the part of the collector, tahsildar as well as the state government as they did not care for a human or for a body," he said. "We have not collected his death certificate till date. I am yet to muster the courage to go to Vasai and collect it," he said. He said they have not received any help from the Maharashtra government or the Centre.