Family of first swine flu casualty is heartbroken on receiving her entire body, including her face, swathed completely in bandages; hospital says precaution necessary to prevent infection

On Monday, the Shaikhs lost their 14-year-old daughter Reeda to swine flu. On Tuesday, their hearts broke again when Jehangir Hospital handed her body over for burial, all swathed in bandages that did not even allow the family a look at her face.u00a0

"The doctors said we should not untie the bandages on Reeda's face as there was a danger of the swine flu virus spreading. It was a heartbreaking sight. How could we keep ourselves from taking one last look? Despite the doctors' warnings, we uncovered her face, so that we could pay our respects," said a sobbing Ratif Sheikh, Reeda's cousin.

And the family was not alone in their grief. Karim, another cousin who was at the funeral, said, "We were joined in our sorrow by the residents of the building. They even accompanied us to the graveyard."

The medical superintendent of Jehangir Hospital, Dr Prasad Mugalikar, said 'mummifying' the body before handing it over to relatives was standard procedure. "We gave the family three sets of bandages to wrap the body in in order to arrest the spread of the infection," said Mugalikar.u00a0

Reeda is survived by two sisters, her mother Shirin and father Sajid.

The girl she wash her aunt Ayesha said Reeda was a quiet unassuming girl, who was very particular about her studies. "She was fond of dressing up in the latest fashion. She participated in elocution competitions. She was extremely polite and never raised her voice. Uski sab yaadein meethi aur pyari hai. Meri itni achchi beti ab Allah ko pyari ho gayi hai," Ayesha said.u00a0

Reeda's father Sajid told this reporter that all the success he had achieved seemed meaningless after her death.

Mohammed Naushad a family friend staying in the neighbourhood, said, "She was like our own child. We could not imagine in our wildest dreams that this would happen to her." Asif Lampwala, lawyer, Advani and Co, will represent the Shaikhs in court. The family is filing a criminal and civil case against Jehangir Hospital and Ruby Hall Clinic, demanding damages.