BHOPAL, Sep 28 (TOI) : A 38-year-old man was forced to get off a bus with his newborn and aged mother in Damoh district after his ailing wife died inside the vehicle. This incident took place on August 25 - the day when the nation was horror-struck with visuals of Dana Manjhi of Kalahandi in Odisha carrying his wife's body on his shoulder for 12 km after hospital authorities refused to arrange for a vehicle to transport the corpse. Manjhi was seen walking with the body on his shoulder while his young daughter walked crying.

In this case, Ram Singh Lodhi, a resident of Chhatarpur district was on his way to Damoh for treatment of his wife. She succumbed to injuries, midway. As soon as Lodhi informed fellow passengers, the bus was stopped. The conductor asked passengers if they were comfortable traveling with the body on board. Some of them raised objections and soon Lodhi was asked to get off the bus with the corpse, infant and mother. Several vehicles passed by, but none helped.

Lodhi was left stranded for more than an hour before two lawyers - Mritunjay Hazari and Rajesh Patel - saw him crying and pleading for help. "He was trying to spoon-feed his baby while his mother sat beside his wife's body," lawyers told local media.

When they enquired, Lodhi narrated his ordeal. Lawyers reportedly called up the Dail-100 facility for ambulance, but to no avail. Later, both of them arranged a private vehicle and helped Lodhi return home.

Police said Lodhi's wife had suffered medical complications after delivery on August 20. He was taking her to Damoh with his five-day-old baby for further treatment.

Home minister Bhupendra Singh ordered registration of criminal case against the bus driver and the conductor. He has also ordered cancelling of registration of the bus's permit. "This is highly shameful," said Singh.