A shocking case of alleged negligence has sparked public outrage in Haridwar after the body of a 36-year-old man was discovered with rat bites inside the district hospital mortuary. The incident occurred on Saturday, leading to protests by grieving family members and local residents.
Grisly Discovery in the Mortuary
The deceased has been identified as Lakhan Sharma, also known as Lucky, who worked as the manager of a Punjabi dharamshala. Sharma reportedly died of a heart attack on Friday evening. Following his death, his body was placed in the hospital mortuary to await a post-mortem examination scheduled for the next morning.
However, when his relatives returned to the facility on Saturday, they were met with a horrific sight. They found that rodents had gnawed on parts of Sharma's face. Disturbingly, one of his eyes was completely missing, presumed to have been eaten by the rats.
Outrage, Protests, and Official Response
The discovery immediately triggered anger and protests. The family lodged a formal police complaint, while locals gathered to demonstrate against the hospital administration's apparent failure to secure the mortuary. The protest turned tense as some individuals broke a glass panel at the hospital's entrance.
Speaking on the incident, SP City Abhay Singh confirmed that an inquiry has been initiated. "The family found his eye gnawed by rats in the morning. We received a complaint, and action is being initiated," he stated.
Local resident Sunil Arora highlighted a tragic irony, revealing that Lakhan Sharma had pledged to donate his eyes after his death. Arora blamed the loss of the eye on administrative negligence and a non-functional freezer in the mortuary.
Administration Orders Probe and Plans Shift
Taking cognizance of the serious lapse, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. In a significant move, DM Dixit announced that the mortuary would soon be shifted to the premises of Haridwar Medical College, presumably to ensure better facilities and management.
This incident has raised serious questions about the maintenance and hygiene standards in government hospital mortuaries, turning a private tragedy into a public issue demanding accountability and immediate systemic improvement.
