Dead woman awakens moments before cremation

Bujji Aamma, 52, suffered severe burns covering half her body in a house fire on February 1.

Taken to MKCG Medical College and Hospital for treatment, Aamma's condition worsened upon discharge.

Her family, facing financial strain, struggled to afford additional treatment. A few days later, Aamma was found unresponsive at home.

Believing her to be deceased, her husband, Sibaram Palo, arranged for her transport to the crematorium in a hearse. "We thought she was dead and informed others...to arrange a hearse van," Palo told the Times of India.

The hearse, provided by the Berhampur Municipal Corporation, transported Aamma to a nearby cremation ground in Bijipur.

However, during the journey, a companion noticed Aamma had opened her eyes—a startling revelation for all involved. "Initially, we were scared...though we had heard some stories," the companion recounted.

The driver, summoned back, returned Aamma home in the same hearse.

Locals do not require a death certificate for cremation rituals, according to the crematorium.

Aamma's case isn't isolated. Last year, a 90-year-old Brazilian woman, Norma Silveira da Silva, was declared dead on November 25 but was discovered breathing in a body bag hours later.

Rushed back to the hospital, Norma died shortly afterward. An investigation was launched into the incident.