Hyderabad: The GHMC is facing trouble on two fronts regarding the timely disposal of unclaimed dead bodies from government hospitals. One is the inefficiency of NGOs and the other is the objections of residents living near crematoriums. While the latter is being handled by civic bodies by carrying out developmental works in their areas, the former one continues to cause trouble.
The GHMC which had earlier involved the NGOs in the cremation of unclaimed dead bodies is now facing a major problem. As the NGOs are taking a long time to identify the dead bodies, a minimum of 25 to 30 bodies pile up at the OGH and Gandhi hospital, and are dumped in a room due to lack of storage facility.
The hospital staff is complaining about the bodies as they emit a foul smell but the GHMC is unable to take action due to interference by the NGOs.
Ever since the Mayor announced that he would personally deal with the cremation of unclaimed dead bodies around 80 bodies have been disposed off in the last 25 days.
“We are planning to dispose unclaimed bodies every week as we found that the bodies have rotten, and are just dumped in a room wrapped with blankets. In some cases the organs have also come out,” said the mayor, Mr Mohd Majid Hussain.
“The process of disposal of dead unclaimed bodies can be expedited only if there is direct communication between the hospital’s higher authorities and the GHMC without interference from NGOs,” said an OGH doctor who did not want to be quoted.
Sources said that NGOs blackmail the doctors, saying they are illegally carrying out organ trading.
