Schoolbag Replaced by a Bier: 8-Year-Old Carries Mother’s Body Alone in Etah

A heart-wrenching incident has come to light from Nagla Dheeraj village under the Jaithra police station area of Etah district, Uttar Pradesh, where an eight-year-old boy was forced to shoulder responsibilities far beyond his age after the death of his mother. The child, who should have been carrying a schoolbag, was instead seen taking his mother’s body alone for post-mortem, exposing the apathy of relatives and society.

The deceased, 45-year-old Neelam, had been battling a serious illness and was undergoing treatment at Veerangana Avantibai Medical College in Etah for the past eight days. She died during treatment at around 10 pm on January 14. After her death, no relative or family member came forward to help. The woman’s eight-year-old son sat crying beside her body through the night.

Early the next morning, at around 7 am, the child reached the district headquarters alone with his mother’s body for post-mortem. At the mortuary, he was seen sitting beside the shroud-covered body, crying inconsolably. Police waited for witnesses to complete the inquest, but even five people were not available initially. Relatives arrived nearly 17 hours later, after which the post-mortem process was completed.

The child told police that his father had died a year ago due to HIV. After his father’s death, relatives allegedly turned hostile and became interested only in the family’s property. He alleged that no one helped even with a single rupee during his mother’s illness and that he now fears for his life, claiming that relatives want to usurp their five bigha land.

The boy said that he alone had taken his mother for treatment to Lohia Hospital in Farrukhabad, Hallett Hospital in Kanpur and even hospitals in Delhi. For several days, he cared for her day and night, arranging medicines and meeting doctors on his own. Despite his efforts, his mother succumbed to the illness.

Jaithra police station in-charge Ritesh Thakur reached the spot after receiving information and assured all possible help. Police and revenue officials have taken responsibility for conducting the woman’s last rites with dignity under administrative supervision. An inspector has also assured support for the children.

The incident has raised serious questions about the breakdown of family support systems and the future of the orphaned children, as the administration considers further assistance.