BAREILLY: The last rites of a 21-year-old man whose family in Uttarakhand was stranded due to torrential rainfall in the state were performed by police personnel in UP’s Rampur, who also livestreamed the rituals for the bereaved family on Saturday.
The body was spotted by a railway worker on duty in Lala Nagla village under Kemri police station on Friday. A police team that reached the spot found a bag near the body which contained identity cards that helped cops contact the man’s family.
The family was informed about the man’s death and an autopsy was conducted which showed that he had died of injuries. Police said the nature of injuries suggested the man was hit by a train.
Station house officer (Kemri police station), Gaurav Singh, told TOI the deceased’s brother, Pooran Ram, who does odd jobs for a living, confirmed the body belonged to Santosh Ram (21), a resident of Odura Pakhu in Pithoragarh. Santosh, a school dropout, had left home four days ago.
“The man’s brother and mother told us they were stuck due to heavy rains in Uttarakhand and would not be able to travel since roads were blocked as well. They requested us to cremate the body following which we asked them for written permission,” said Singh.
Once a written application was submitted to police online, additional superintendent of police (Rampur), Sansar Singh, issued directions for the body to be cremated with Hindu rituals. Cops performed the last rites and livestreamed it for the family so they could bid a virtual adieu to their loved one.
