Stray Dog Bites Body at Jadcherla Mortuary; 3 Officials Suspended
The body of Beemesh of Nagasala village in Jadcherla was kept at the mortuary after it was fished out from a lake
Hyderabad: Stray dogs attacked the body of a 25-year-old youth left on the floor of an old mortuary building at the Jadcherla area hospital in Mahbubnagar district, sparking accusations of alleged negligence by hospital staff. Hospital superintendent Dr. Chandrakala, Duty RMO Dr Harinath, and mortuary supporting staff (MNO) Raviprakash were suspended for negligence. Duty Medical Officer Munisha was issued a show-cause notice.
According to the Jadcherla police, the body of Bheemesh, a resident of Nagasala, was recovered from a lake on March 2 and shifted to the area hospital for a postmortem. The victim was reportedly missing from home since February 28.
When they reached the hospital, the victim’s relatives said the body was lying on the floor in the old hospital building. “We saw dogs near the body. When we informed the staff, they said the dogs would go away. But after an hour, we saw dogs biting the body’s hand. Though we drove them away, they kept returning. As there was no staff present at the hospital until around 3 pm, the postmortem was delayed,” a family member said.
The Jadcherla police said, “Bheemesh had died by drowning. We were informed that he had accidentally fallen into the lake. The body was recovered and handed over to the area hospital, Jadcherla.”
Hospital superintendent Dr Chandrakala stated that the body was kept in the old building beside a safety room, which is usually locked. “The old building is not in use and the new mortuary facility is set to be launched in two days.”
According to her, damaged walls in the old structure allowed dogs to enter, but they were removed within minutes. She stated that action was initiated against staff for keeping the body in the old building.
Medical services commissioner Dr Ajay Kumar said that a new 100-bed hospital building has been sanctioned and postmortems have been conducted there since September. He said all departments have shifted to the new building and sought an explanation on why the body was kept in the old structure despite available facilities.
Health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha expressed anger and directed commissioner Dr Kumar to visit the hospital and conduct an inquiry.
