Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24: The Odisha Assembly today debated on how Daana Majhi was denied help by the health department officials in Kalahandi.

The 48-year-old Daana had to carry the body of his wife for nearly 16km because of non-availability of a hearse.

The Opposition today raised the issue in the Assembly during the Zero Hour and demanded that a House committee should be formed to probe how Daana had been denied an ambulance to carry his wife's body and forced to shoulder the body for nearly 16 kilometres before getting any help.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said: "We are raising the issue and demanding the constitution of a House committee to probe the matter. The committee should inquire into how Daana was subjected to harassment and hospital authorities denied him the ambulance. Only an impartial probe in needed to ascertain the truth. Now, an effort is being made to mislead the entire issue."

Targeting health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said: "The statement of the health minister that Daana did not ask for a hearse is a travesty of truth. As a House committee can unveil the truth, the Speaker should agree to this."

BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit also argued on the same line and said he wondered why the Odisha government was dilly-dallying on constituting a House committee on this issue.

Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said he had made a statement on Majhi based on the preliminary report of the chief medical district officer of Kalahandi. "This is an unfortunate incident. A detailed inquiry is on. The state government has already terminated the security agency and suspended a staff nurse. Once the detailed inquiry report comes out, action will be taken against those who are found to be guilty."