In a case of gross misman-agement that has caused two families unnecessary grief, a civic-run COVID-19 hospital, Thane Global Impact Hub in Kalwa, handed a body wrapped and taped in a PPE suit to a family saying their relative, Janardhan Sonawane, 67, had died. However, a few days later, the family got to know that Sonawane is alive and the body they cremated was of Bhalchandra Gaikwad, 71.

Sonawane's son Sandeep received a call from the Thane hospital at 6.30 am on July 3 informing him that he had died of COVID-19. "We reached the hospital immediately. The body was wrapped in a PPE suit and the face was not visible. We could not tell the hospital staff to show us the face as it was not advisable," said Sandeep.