Representative image
2 accompanying dead body also in the clear
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 23
The 23 year old girl from Beisumpuikam Village, Peren who passed away on the train bound for Dimapur from Haryana on May 22, has been tested negative for COVID-19.
Two persons who de-boarded along with the dead body in Kanpur have also been tested negative according to latest reports.
Shanavas C, Principal Director of School Education and Nodal Officer for stranded persons outside the state told The Morung Express that post death, COVID-19 test was done. 2 of the deceased’s co-passengers who got down at Kanpur were also tested.
All three results came out negative. An ambulance has been arranged, and they will be leaving for Nagaland in some time, he said.
The deceased was reportedly undergoing tests for liver problems and was under medication during the time of her travel.
‘Time to bring our sister home’
After the demise of the girl, speculations were rife about objection by the village authorities regarding the dead body being brought home.
However, the Beisumpukam Village Council Chairman told this newspaper on Saturday that the Village authority had passed no such resolution. They had discussed the possibilities and decided that they will wait until the COVID-19 result was announced and subsequent Government directives.
“She is one of our own and our hearts would also not allow having her dead body disposed of like that away from home,” he shared while adding that they had to wait for Government directives in order to proceed with their village resolution.
In this regard, the father of the deceased had also said that considering the apprehension of the villagers, if his daughter was tested positive for COVID-19, he had to agree to the body being buried at Kanpur as per protocols.
Following this revelation, there were allegations that the family of the deceased had been made to agree to the burial at Kanpur under duress.
President of the Beisumpukam Students Union (BSU) told this newspaper that there had been no such development and the village authorities had not even come to a final decision.
Even if there were people who had voiced their opinion regarding not allowing the body to be brought home, the President said that it did not represent the village authority’s opinion. “They are not the decision making authority in this case, and does not imply the final decision of the Village authority” he said.
Following the COVID-19 test result announcement, the BSU President said that necessary arrangements will be made to receive the body and plans will be initiated for proper burial. The village authority will also be issuing a statement on the same, he said.
Stressing that this is not the time to be indulging in unwarranted speculations, he said that efforts should be channeled towards honouring the deceased. “This is the time to bring our sister home,” he concluded.
