Case of relatives carrying deceased child’s body in a bag due to ambulance unavailability: Key facts from the investigation report

Chai Baba, the case involving a viral video of a deceased child’s body being carried in a bag from the Sadar Hospital Chai Baba has been fully investigated. The Sadar Chai Baba district officer has provided the investigative report to the District Magistrate-Sah-Sub-Commissioner, Western Singhabhu. The investigation clarified that the deceased child’s name was Krishna Chotmba (father – Dimbा Chotmba), from Village Balgodori, Novamundi. The viral video claimed the child was four years old, an inaccurate statement; the investigation revealed the child was actually only four months old. According to the report, the child was admitted to Sadar Hospital Chai Baba on 18 December 2025 at 5:15 pm with complaints of fever and loose motion. The child was kept in the pediatric ward and tested positive for malaria. The proposal to refer the child to MGM Hospital, Jamshedpur for better treatment was made, but the father preferred treatment there. During treatment, the child died on 19 December 2025 at 1:15 pm. After death, a corpse transport vehicle was requested, but one vehicle was in Manoharpur and the other was involved in an accident, causing delay. The relatives were informed to wait. Around 4:40 pm, the transport vehicle arrived, but by then the father’s family had already taken the body away from the hospital. The investigation also found 33 children were admitted to the ward that day, with only two nurses assigned. It was unclear when the father left with the body due to lack of a mobile phone to contact him. The report states that if the relatives had waited, a vehicle would have been available. In haste, the father carried the body in a bag. Recommendations include promptly repairing a damaged corpse vehicle to prevent future incidents. Administration has committed to taking corrective measures.