Shillong, Feb 12: An injured victim of a dynamite blast in Myngsnat-Thangsko coal mine, who was declared dead, is alive, adding intrigue and dilemma for the relatives who had conducted his last rites earlier.
In a mistaken identity, the relatives of Shyambabu Singha (44) took the body of another injured man to their native place in Karimganj in Assam.
After the matter came to light, the Deputy Commissioner & Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority East Jaintia Hills issued a ‘corrigendum.’
In his clarification to the Joint Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, the deputy commissioner said that the victim of the explosion on February 5, Shyambabu Singha, who was taken to NEIGRIHMS, died on February 8, and his body was handed over to his family.
However, on February 12, information was received that Shyambabu Singha is still alive. On receipt of the information, the district administration confirmed on the phone that they had mistakenly claimed the body of another victim and that the rites and rituals of the deceased were performed, whereas the belongings of the deceased are still under the care of the family of Shyambabu Singha.
Shyambabu and his family members, who received the body of the deceased, have been asked to report to the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills, on February 13.
Earlier, on February 7, when two bodies were recovered from the Myngsnat-Thangsko mine, the family was seen waiting at the site in the presence of a medical officer.
Enigma deepens
When contacted, the Shillong Civil Hospital staff said the postmortem of Shyambabu was conducted at the hospital, and the family identified the body from his earring. The body was handed over to them on February 8.
Though the deputy commissioner had mentioned that the victim was taken to NEIGRIHMS, there are no records there to show that Shyambabu was admitted there.
There was only one Nishikanta Singha (87) from Assam, who was admitted on January 14, and he died two days later.
Who was the dead man?
As the mystery continues, the authorities will have to find out who the actual dead man was whose last rites were already performed by the family of Shyambabu.
