General News

Raipur: His wife was inconsolable, his relatives were mourning his sudden death. So, when 32-year-old Vijay Kumar Ratre 'came alive' and tried to jump out of the ambulance while being taken for post-mortem, the atmosphere changed from one of gloom to incredulous joy.

It all started with the Tikrapara police station here getting several calls from local residents that a dead body was floating in a pond in Lalpur area since several hours.

Amid mourning and emotional scenes, the policemen managed to fish out the body of Ratre, a labourer, with the help of locals. They called an ambulance to send his body for post-mortem at Bhimrao Ambedkar Government Medical College and Hospital.

"As soon as Ratre was put in the ambulance, he got up and tried to jump out from the vehicle. A crowd of about 100 people, who had gathered at the spot, burst into celebrations," the police officer said.

"It was a very unusual event that the police witnessed."

Apparently, Ratre was under the influence of alcohol and was not aware of what was happening around him.

A police officer said that the policemen who were handling the case should have "applied brain before calling an ambulance as he was just unconscious".

But for a section of people who watched the developing events, it was a "miracle".

"Ratre had surely died, everyone was convinced, even the policemen. His body was not moving and responding, it was a miracle witnessed by over 100 people. I am seeking his blessings because he is not an ordinary person now," said Dilip, 21, a local.