In a shocking apathy, the Government “Osmania General Hospital” have recklessly dumped the bodies of dozens of unidentified individuals, to decompose in its morgue.

The bodies, decomposing in the summer heat, are heaped inhumanly in a corner of the morgue, after the post-mortem examination.

As pictures provided by a whistle blower show, the dead bodies are unclothed at the time of the post-mortem. Most of them do not even get the dignity of being covered with clothes, before they are thrown along the corner of the morgue, along with some construction debris. Some times, the bodies lie in that pathetic condition, for at least 25 days, before they are sent for a funeral.

According to the rules, the bodies have to be disposed off within 72 hours, after post-mortem. However, the pictures of the bodies showed, this was not done. After 72 hours of compulsory wait for claimants, following the autopsy, the body becomes the State property, and it should no longer be held with anyone. As per the Anatomy Act, it should be disposed off after that period.

The cold storage in the mortuary has eight freezers, each of which can include four bodies. Two of these are not working and the hospital did not get them fixed. The doctors, students and the staff are forced to work in the effluvium of the decomposed bodies. Individuals who are waiting to collect the bodies of their loved ones, are nauseated, but are left with no choice, other than to bear the stinking smell, says reports.

The hospital officials, when asked about the horrific conditions, gave away a variety of responses. They however refuted the allegations, and stated that it was not “today’s picture”. Another excuse which the hospital officials gave was, there were more deaths in the summer, and this was a “temporary” occurrence. Every year, the hospital gets around 6,000 bodies, of which one-fifth are of unidentified individuals. The hospital is aware of the fact that it can expect around 1,200 such bodies annually. Most of the cases are reported from April to June, since homeless persons succumbing to the heat is said to be common. The hospital did not make any attempt to preserve the dead bodies with dignity.

During summer, around 200 to 300 bodies come to the mortuary, and out of these 50-70 are unidentified. A hospital official said, “Because the GHMC does not dispose them of, they rot in the mortuary.” What the hospital have done to get the bodies cleared is yet to be known. The efforts to question the GHMC officials, proved pointless. Additional Health Commissioner, Ravi Kiran did not respond to several calls. The health risks associated with life after death are :

1800 unclaimed Muslim bodies in Gandhi

SUPRAJA