Bhubaneswar, March 4 -- A disturbing incident has come to light from Sundargarh district of Odisha, where a nine-year-old boy sat beside his father's body throughout the night after villagers allegedly failed to turn up for the last rites, sources said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at Kantara-Koida village under Koida police limits in Sundargarh. The deceased, Muthu Gunda, had been battling cancer and was undergoing treatment at home after returning from the hospital. He had passed away on Sunday afternoon.

However, after Muthu's death, no villagers allegedly came forward to help carry out the funeral rites. With no one to shoulder his father's bier, the grieving child approached the local police seeking assistance. Acting on the ...