Bureaucratic horror: Tragic story of banking hurdles in rural India

In India’s eastern state of Odisha, a man exhumed his sister’s body three months after her death and carried it about 3 kilometers to a bank branch, according to India Today.

The woman died in January after an illness, the report said. She had 19,000 rupees (about $230) remaining in her bank account, but her brother was unable to access the funds.

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The man said he had contacted the bank several times, but employees refused to release the money without the account holder present.

Desperate act shocks staff

In desperation, he dug up his sister’s body, wrapped it in cloth and walked to the branch. Alarmed employees called police. Officers took custody of the remains and arranged for them to be reburied. Authorities also instructed the man on the proper process for claiming his sister’s funds.

Indian Overseas Bank denied requiring the deceased account holder to be physically present. The bank said standard procedure requires official documents, including a death certificate and proof of inheritance, neither of which the man had provided.

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Local authorities urged the bank to resolve the matter promptly, emphasizing the need for a humane and sensitive approach.