The body of a conductor in Madikeri, who was crushed to death under a bus, was denied entry into his own house because of a superstitious father.
Lohit (27), a resident of Madikeri, was working as a bus conductor for a private transport company. Last night he slipped from a moving bus on the outskirts of Madikeri.
The bus ran over him and he was severely injured. He was taken immediately to the nearby Madikeri Hospital. But as the hospital lacked facilities to treat him, he was taken to Sullya hospital in an ambulance. But he could not survive and expired around 11.45 pm.
Lohit’s mother immediately rushed to the spot only to witness Lohit's death. However, a superstition prevented her from taking her son's body back home.
Her husband held the notion that the corpse of a man who has died unnaturally would invite bad spirits. Thus the father refused to allow the dead body of Lohit to be brought inside the home.
The body was kept outside the home, in an ambulance, the whole night, with the mother of the deceased, Sunitha, weeping beside it. Taking pity on her, her neighbours informed the municipal corporation and arranged for a cremation.
“I have instructed for all assistance to be provided to the family. My health inspector has already reached the spot. I assure you that the municipal corporation will assist them in every possible way”, said Pushpavati, Municipal Commissioner.
