A deeply disturbing case of negligence has emerged from a government hospital in Uttarakhand, where the body of a deceased man was found partially eaten by rodents inside the mortuary. The incident, confirmed by officials, has sparked outrage and highlighted severe infrastructural lapses.
Family's Horrific Discovery in Haridwar Mortuary
According to officials cited by PTI, the shocking event occurred at the district hospital in Haridwar. Family members of the deceased, Lakhan Kumar (36), made the grisly discovery. Kumar, a resident of Haridwar and manager of a local guesthouse, had died of a cardiac arrest on Friday and his body was placed in the hospital's mortuary for storage.
When relatives went to view the body later, they were met with a horrific sight. They reported finding deep wounds on the corpse's eyes, nose, ears, navel, and head, which they said were caused by rats. One family member pointed out a significant hole in the deep freezer where the body was kept, claiming it allowed the rodents to enter.
Hospital Admits Negligence, Blames Repair Agency
Ranveer Kumar, the Assistant Superintendent of Haridwar district hospital, admitted that the unfortunate incident had taken place. He explained that the doors of two or three deep freezers in the mortuary are currently in a damaged state.
He attributed this "unfortunate incident" directly to the negligence of the external agency that had been contracted to carry out repairs. The official stated that action would be taken against the responsible agency. The family also asserted that most freezers in the facility are in a dilapidated condition.
Separate Incident: Leopard Attacks Child in Pauri
In an unrelated but alarming event from Uttarakhand, a four-year-old boy was injured in a leopard attack in Pauri district on Tuesday. The child, identified as Anmol, was returning to his home in Dewar village from an Anganwadi centre with his mother and an Asha worker when the wild cat suddenly pounced on him.
The leopard fled the scene after the mother, the health worker, and local residents raised an alarm. The boy suffered head injuries in the attack and was initially rushed to the district hospital. He was later discharged after receiving treatment. The incident caused panic among villagers, who are now demanding that the forest department capture the leopard.
Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Ayesha Bisht said that patrolling would be intensified in the area as a response to the attack. These two incidents, occurring within days in Uttarakhand, raise serious questions about public safety and institutional accountability, one in an urban healthcare setting and the other in a rural wildlife context.
