Second life: Man returns home 3 days after his ‘funeral’
Relatives bury another man in confusion.
A file photo of a grave. PHOTO:FILE
MUZZAFFARABAD:
A week ago, the family of 70-year-old labourer Sadiq Mughal of Nara Kot Kotli area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was in mourning. It was the qul, or third day, after Mughal’s death – or so they thought.
“But then we received a phone call that our father was still alive,” said Mughal’s eldest son. Hundreds thronged the family’s home as Sadiq was brought back and his sons distributed sweets among those gathered.
Six days ago, a man matching Sadiq’s description was found near the River Jhelum, where he had been working as a labourer. “Our relatives in Dadayal (190 kilometers away) informed us that a body that resembled our father had been found,” Sadiq’s son said.
The body was retrieved and buried. “We are happy that our father is alive, but at the same time we are unhappy on account of the man we buried,” Sadiq’s son said.
When The Express Tribune contacted the area’s health officials, they said the buried man cannot be exhumed without the filing of a complaint.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2014.
A week ago, the family of 70-year-old labourer Sadiq Mughal of Nara Kot Kotli area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was in mourning. It was the qul, or third day, after Mughal’s death – or so they thought.
“But then we received a phone call that our father was still alive,” said Mughal’s eldest son. Hundreds thronged the family’s home as Sadiq was brought back and his sons distributed sweets among those gathered.
Six days ago, a man matching Sadiq’s description was found near the River Jhelum, where he had been working as a labourer. “Our relatives in Dadayal (190 kilometers away) informed us that a body that resembled our father had been found,” Sadiq’s son said.
The body was retrieved and buried. “We are happy that our father is alive, but at the same time we are unhappy on account of the man we buried,” Sadiq’s son said.
When The Express Tribune contacted the area’s health officials, they said the buried man cannot be exhumed without the filing of a complaint.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2014.