In a shocking turn of events in Odisha’s Puri, an 86-year-old woman who had been declared dead and was on her way to cremation was discovered alive just minutes before the final rites were to be performed. The woman, identified as P. Lakshmi from Andhra Pradesh, had been visiting her son-in-law’s residence in Ganjam district when her health deteriorated. She was taken to a local hospital, where doctors reportedly declared her dead. Following this, her body was transported to Puri, where her family had made arrangements for the cremation at the Swargadwar crematorium.
As family members, relatives, and priests began preparing for the last rites, an unexpected moment stunned everyone present. A security guard at the crematorium noticed unusual movement from Lakshmi’s body. On closer inspection, it became evident that she was breathing faintly. Eyewitnesses were left shocked as the woman, whom they had believed lifeless, suddenly showed signs of life, forcing the family to halt the cremation immediately.
One of her relatives, Dharma Sethi, explained how the entire confusion unfolded. According to him, Lakshmi had shown no signs of breathing, nor had she opened her eyes, which led the family to believe she had passed away. They arranged to take her body to Puri for the rituals, unaware that she was still alive. It was only during the final preparations, thanks to the alertness of the guard, that the truth came to light, sparing the woman from being cremated alive.
Following the dramatic discovery, Lakshmi was rushed to Puri Medical College and Hospital for urgent medical care. Doctors who examined her confirmed that while her heart and kidneys were still functioning, her brain was not responding adequately, leaving her condition critical. The medical team immediately began emergency treatment in an effort to stabilize her fragile state.
The incident also brought to light an administrative detail at the crematorium. According to Braja Kishore Sahu, the manager of Swargadwar crematorium, cremation cannot be carried out without three essential documents: the Aadhaar cards of the deceased and the applicant, along with an official death certificate. The family had not been able to present a death certificate at the time, which inadvertently delayed the process. This delay, coupled with the vigilance of the staff, helped uncover the woman’s faint signs of life before an irreversible mistake could be made.
The extraordinary case has left locals in disbelief, highlighting not only the fragility of medical assessments in such cases but also the sheer stroke of fortune that prevented a tragedy. Lakshmi’s condition, however, remains precarious, and her family now waits anxiously for updates on her recovery.
