Officials stated on Thursday that a tribal couple went roughly 40 kilometres on a motorbike to their village, with the lady carrying their deceased minor son's body.

After finishing the medical procedures, the bereaved parents sought to hire an ambulance to bring their son's body back to their home in Sadakwadi, a distant village some 40 kilometres away.

The doctors informed the couple that because the kid died of natural causes, there was no need for a post-mortem, but the couple was resolute and insisted on returning that night, despite the bitter cold.

Finally, shortly before midnight, Yuvraj Pardhi and his wife tenderly covered their slain son's body in a couple of sheets, wrapped themselves in heavy blankets, and returned home.

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They arrived to their shack in Sadakwadi village in the early hours of Wednesday, as the country celebrated its 73rd Republic Day.

On Wednesday, the boy's last rites were done, with the whole tribal hamlet in sadness and the nation erupting in joy.

The hospital and district health officials initiated an investigation and advised the immediate removal of the three ambulance drivers, who were hired from a contracting agency in Palghar town, according to Dr. Marad.

Such events, according to Shramjeevi Sanghatana Founder Vivek Pandit, are widespread in remote tribal districts of Palghar, Nandurbar, and other tribal belts that lack health amenities.

According to a health department official, the government would shortly order the deployment of a funeral van and an ambulance to the sub-district hospital on a permanent basis.

(IANS/PR)

(Keywords: Tribal couple, 40 kms, motorcycle, dead son, hospital, autopsy, Ajay Y. Pardhi, severe pneumonia)