Naveen Patnaik said the Odisha government has launched the 'Mahaparayana' scheme.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today described as "distressing" the incident of a tribal man forced to walk 10 km with his wife's body on his shoulder as he was allegedly denied a hearse and said stringent action would be taken against the guilty.
"It is very distressing, we have ordered an inquiry and stringent action will be taken against those who are responsible," he said on the sidelines of Odisha Investors' Meet 2016 in Bengaluru.
Mr Patnaik said the Odisha government has launched the 'Mahaparayana' scheme for free transportation of bodies from government hospitals to the residences of the deceased. On whether any action has been taken in connection with the incident, the chief minister said, "Let the inquiry produce its result."
Dana Majhi's wife Amang Dei, 42, died of tuberculosis on Tuesday night at the district headquarters hospital in Bhawanipatna of Odisha's Kalahandi district.
Mr Majhi had alleged that despite his efforts, he could not get any help from hospital authorities.
On Wednesday, he wrapped his wife's body in a cloth and started walking to his village Melghara, which is about 60 km from Bhawanipatna, along with his 12-year-old daughter till some local reporters spotted the duo.
They called up the District Collector and arranged for an ambulance for transportation of the body, but by then the man had walked around 10 km.