In a stunning turn of events, an 86-year-old woman, P. Lakshmi, who had been declared dead, was found to be alive just moments before her cremation at the Swargadwar cremation ground in Puri, Odisha. The incident, which occurred on Monday, has sparked widespread astonishment and raised questions about the procedures for confirming deaths.

Lakshmi, from the Polasara area of Ganjam district, had been undergoing treatment at a local hospital. After she was declared dead, her family transported her to Swargadwar in an ambulance to perform her final rites. However, upon arrival, staff at the cremation ground requested a medical death certificate. As the family did not have the required documentation, the cremation was temporarily put on hold.

It was during this brief pause that a shocking discovery was made. Cremation ground staff who approached the body noticed signs of life. To the amazement of both family members and workers, the woman, previously presumed dead, began to show movement. Witnesses reported that she was breathing.

The cremation was immediately halted, and Lakshmi was rushed to Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), also referred to as Puri Medical College and Hospital, for emergency treatment. Doctors have confirmed that she is alive and is currently under observation. Her condition is being closely monitored.

Family members have expressed their shock and relief, describing the event as a divine intervention. According to one relative, they saw her chest moving as they prepared for the rituals and rushed her to the hospital.

The incident has triggered a wave of reactions, with many locals calling it a "rebirth". It has also ignited discussions about the necessity for more stringent medical confirmations before declaring a person dead. Locals at Swargadwar have described the moment as both terrifying and heartening, as the woman's 'life returned from the brink'. Authorities have not yet issued a formal statement addressing the apparent misdiagnosis.