India, July 12 -- A family in flood-hit Palghar was forced to keep the body of a 55-year-old member on the roof of their home for nearly 12 hours after rising floodwaters inundated their village, making it impossible to perform her last rites and due to fears that the body could be washed away if kept on the ground.

Anusuya Manohar Lilaka, 55, a resident of Devipada near Kelwe railway station, died late on July 5 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhundalwadi, Dahanu taluka.

Her family brought the body by ambulance up to Kelwe Road railway station. However, the nearest access road to the village was cut off after an underpass beneath a railway bridge was submerged under four to five feet of flowing water.

Finding no ot...