In a startling incident from Berhampur, India, a 52-year-old woman, presumed dead from severe burn injuries, awoke just before her cremation was about to take place.
The woman, named Bujji Aamma, had sustained critical burn injuries covering more than half her body due to a house fire on February 1. Her subsequent treatment was undertaken at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.
Despite the efforts of the hospital, Aamma’s health deteriorated post-discharge. Her family, unable to afford further medical assistance due to economic hardship, had no choice but to watch her condition worsen.
On February 12, Aamma displayed no signs of life, such as breathing or eye movement. This led her husband, Sibaram Palo, aged 54, and their community to start making arrangements for her cremation.
Palo shared with the Times of India that they believed Aamma had passed away and informed others in their community to arrange a hearse van to transport the body to the cremation site.
A fellow community member, K Chiranjibi, 50, who accompanied the body in the hearse, reported that Aamma regained consciousness and responded to their speech as they were nearly finished preparing the funeral pyre, leaving everyone present in a state of shock.
Khetrabashi Sahu, the driver of the hearse, relayed the unusual experience of returning Aamma, alive, to her home.
This incident highlights a substantial procedural gap in the local community: the lack of a compulsory death certificate for executing last rites. This led to an untimely declaration of death.
Instances like this, while uncommon, have occurred elsewhere, including the U.S. In one such case, an 82-year-old woman on Long Island, New York, revived in February 2023 after being pronounced dead. This incident, along with others, has prompted investigations and a call to reevaluate the standards used in medical and legal declarations of death.
Aamma underwent treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital. MKCG superintendent Suchitra Dash stated that it took approximately three hours for their staff to dress the burn wounds and provide the necessary medication to the patient.
