Gold of deceased patient goes 'missing', authorities return it after relatives refused to accept body

ALUVA: The gold jewllery of an old woman who died while undergoing Covid treatment at the district hospital went missing. After the relatives refused to accept the body and lodged a complaint with the police, the authorities returned the gold.

Rathnam (66), wife of PK Sasi of Pakathuparambil Varappuzha's Chirakkakam, died on Friday evening. The relatives who reached the spot were given only a gold bangle by the authorities saying that it belonged to the deceased. Ratna had no children so other relatives came. When they returned home, it was found that Rathnam wore five bangles, earrings and a ring when she was taken to the hospital.

Activists of Hindu Aikya Vedi and Seva Bharathi went to the hospital yesterday morning to inform the same to the authorities, but to no avail. A complaint was then lodged with the hospital superintendent and the Aluva and Varappuzha police stations. After the legislators intervened in the matter, the hospital authorities returned the remaining gold within two hours to Seva Bharathi district president Sivaprasad.

According to hospital officials, the problem was caused by the confusion of the staff who took the gold and kept it after death. Rathnam's husband Shashi is the president of the Hindu Aikyavedi Varappuzha Panchayat Committee.