Thiruvananthapuram | The opposition CPI(M) on Thursday accused the UDF government of showing "unpardonable disrespect" towards the body of swimming instructor R Rajesh.
The party demanded stringent action against the officials allegedly responsible for the lapse. Rajesh died while rescuing a man from floodwaters in Kannur district.
Senior CPI(M) leader and former minister V Sivankutty alleged that the Revenue and Health departments had displayed a "cruel and irresponsible" attitude towards Rajesh's body.
He said Rajesh's act of giving away his own life jacket to save another person's life reflected unparalleled courage and sacrifice.
In a statement, Sivankutty claimed that Rajesh's body was handed over to his family at around 8.30 pm on Tuesday after the postmortem at the Government Medical College, Kannur.
He alleged that despite repeated requests by the family for a freezer-equipped ambulance, citing the long journey to Thiruvananthapuram and the condition of the body, the authorities turned down the request, reportedly citing a lack of funds.
According to Sivankutty, the body was transported in a non-freezer ambulance, forcing the family to shift it to a private freezer ambulance at Chavakkad after a foul smell began emanating from the vehicle during the journey.
Describing the episode as a "grave injustice" to a man who sacrificed his life to save another, Sivankutty urged the government to initiate immediate disciplinary action against the officials allegedly responsible for the lapse.
The allegations came a day after Chief Minister V D Satheesan paid tributes to Rajesh and announced that the swimming instructor would be accorded full state honours at his funeral.
He had said the government would complete Rajesh's unfinished house.
Rajesh, a native of Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram district, died on August 1 after giving his life jacket to 61-year-old Benny, whom he had rescued from the flood-swollen Kariangode river near Meenthully in Kannur district.
While leading Benny to safety, Rajesh was swept away by the strong current. His body was recovered on Tuesday.
