On Tuesday, a distressing photo of an old man taking his ailing wife to a hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district went viral, forcing Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak to seek an investigation. The incident occurred on March 28 in the district’s Andaur village.

In the Tweet of Pathak, who holds the health ministry portfolio, “In a viral video from Ballia, an old person is seen taking a patient to a hospital in a cart. After getting the information and taking cognisance of the viral video, Health Director-General has been asked to probe the incident and take strict action against those responsible.”

बलिया,उत्तर प्रदेश के वायरल वीडियो में एक बुजुर्ग व्यक्ति मरीज को ठेले पर अस्पताल ले जाते दिखाई दे रहा है।जानकारी प्राप्त होने पर वायरल वीडियो का संज्ञान लेते हुए स्वास्थ्य महानिदेशक को जांच कर दोषियों के विरुद्ध कार्यवाही करने के निर्देश दिए।जिसकी खबर प्रमुख समाचार पत्रों में.. pic.twitter.com/nOjIuIytTn

— Brajesh Pathak (@brajeshpathakup) April 5, 2022

Sakul Prajapati, 58, a resident of the hamlet in Chilkhar block, is seen in the photo pushing his unwell 55-year-old wife Jogni to the hospital on a cart. Prajapati used the cart to transport his wife to a health centre 3 kilometres from his home since he couldn’t locate a ride. His wife was referred to the district hospital by the physicians, who prescribed several medications.

He then left his wife on the cart at Piyaria hamlet and went home to get clothing and money before driving her to the hospital in a mini-truck. According to investigators, his wife died in the hospital while undergoing treatment.

According to Prajapati, the death occurred at 11 p.m., and the hospital declined to give an ambulance to transport the body home, claiming that the service was unavailable at that time. He then paid Rs 1,100 for a private ambulance.

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