Indian man found alive on funeral pyre after being declared dead

A 25-year-old man in Rajasthan was discovered alive on a funeral pyre moments before it was set ablaze after a doctor failed to conduct a required postmortem, medical officials confirmed Saturday.

Rohitash Kumar, who had speaking and hearing difficulties, had been admitted to a hospital in Jhunjhunu on Thursday after suffering an epileptic seizure.

Upon arrival, he was declared dead by a doctor, though the cause of death was not verified through the standard postmortem procedure.

Without the postmortem, Kumar’s body was sent to the mortuary and later transported for cremation according to Hindu rites. However, shortly before the pyre was set to be lit, his body began to show signs of movement and he was discovered to be alive, breathing.

Kumar was rushed back to the hospital for immediate treatment, but doctors confirmed he had died on Friday after further efforts were made to revive him.

An investigation is now underway. The hospital's chief medical officer, D. Singh, stated that the doctor had prepared a postmortem report without actually performing the necessary examination.

Three doctors have been suspended, and police have launched a formal inquiry into the incident.