Chatra: After a woman and her two daughters drowned in a pond on Sunday, the district administration ordered a probe following allegations by the bereaved family that Rs 5,000 was taken by a sweeper for conducting postmortem examination at Sadar hospital.Parwa Devi, 28, wife of Khiru Yadav, went to a pond at Bhojya village with her daughters Geeta Kumari, 8, and Malti Kumari, 6, to wash clothes on Sunday. Malti had slipped into deeper waters. In an attempt to save her, Parwa and her elder daughter entered the pond but drowned due to slippery conditions, police said. Villagers later recovered the bodies.“We were made to run around the hospital campus until the payment was made,” said a bereaved family member, who later lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner.Chatra DC Ravi Anand, who took charge two days ago, said that he ordered an inquiry on Sunday night. A four-member inquiry committee has been constituted, chaired by Sadar SDO Zahur Alam, with civil surgeon Satyendra Sinha, deputy superintendent of Sadar hospital and the hospital manager as members. The panel has been directed to submit a detailed report within 24 hours.Anand said, “Based on the report, accountability will be fixed and punitive action will be taken including dismissal and lodging of FIR if needed.”Sinha said that prima facie it seems that money was collected illegally, but a final report is awaited.
