A disturbing video has emerged from West Bengal's West Medinipur district, showing a deceased person being transported to a crematorium on a makeshift raft made from banana tree trunks.
The incident occurred in the Banvasi Ghatal area after Manasa Chowdhury, a resident of Ward No. 9 in Ghatal Municipality, passed away at approximately 12:30 am on Sunday. Her husband, Kanhaiyalal Chaudhary, is a local TMC leader and a former councillor for Ward 9 of Ghatal Municipality.
Due to severe waterlogging, conventional transportation methods were impossible for the funeral procession. With the crematorium located a considerable distance from the village and cut off by floodwaters, the family resorted to using the banana-trunk raft to transport the body.
The video has sparked political controversy, with BJP MLA Sital Kapat sharing the shocking footage to criticise the state's ruling party. Kapat questioned the lack of infrastructure development, pointing out that the construction of electric furnaces remains incomplete and alleging financial mismanagement. "What development has been done in Ghatal Municipality? What has the chairman done? Crores of rupees are being looted in the name of the master plan," he said.
The viral video has drawn strong reactions on social media.
"Very heartbreaking. Implementation of the Ghatal Master Plan is the need of the hour," commented one user.
Another wrote, "With visuals like this, it seems rural West Bengal is still living in the post-independence period, thanks to the misrule of TMC & CPM."
