Odisha Woman Found Alive Moments Before Cremation

An unusual and shocking case emerged in Odisha’s Puri, where an 86-year-old woman found alive before cremation stunned her family and onlookers. The woman, identified as P. Lakshmi from Andhra Pradesh, was visiting her son-in-law’s house in Ganjam district when she suddenly fell ill and was presumed dead.

Declared Dead After Hospital Visit

Family members reported that Lakshmi was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Doctors there allegedly declared her dead after she showed no signs of breathing or responsiveness. Believing the end had come, her relatives brought her body to the famous Swargadwar crematorium in Puri to perform her last rites.

Sudden Movement Stuns Family

Just as the family and priests were preparing for the rituals, a security guard noticed unexpected movement. On closer inspection, it was discovered that the elderly woman was still breathing. The shocking realisation brought the cremation process to an immediate halt.

Rushed Back to Hospital

Lakshmi was immediately shifted to Puri Medical College and Hospital, where doctors confirmed she was alive. Her condition, however, was declared highly critical.
“Her heart and kidneys are functioning, but her brain is not responding properly,” one of the attending doctors stated.

Death Certificate Delay Prevented Cremation

Interestingly, the cremation had not yet started as the family could not produce a mandatory death certificate. Crematorium authorities explained that Aadhaar documents, along with an official death certificate, are required before carrying out the final rites.
“It was during this waiting period that one of our guards noticed signs of breathing,” said Braja Kishore Sahu, the crematorium manager.

Conclusion

This case of a woman found alive before cremation highlights the critical need for careful medical verification before declaring death. In rare instances, patients in deep coma or with minimal vital signs may appear lifeless, leading to mistaken assumptions.

Medical experts stress that such situations, though uncommon, underline the importance of thorough checks to avoid premature declarations of death.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources

Conclusion

Priya Bairagi

Copy-Writer & Content Editor

All Posts

I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.