Now, skeletal remains found near Muzaffarpur hospital

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 22

In yet another shocker from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, human skeletal remains were discovered in the compounds of Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), the biggest state government hospital in the district.

The SKMCH is already in news for weak response to the growing epidemic of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, which has so far claimed over 147 lives out of over 611 reported cases.

Medical infrastructure and health human resource availability at SKMCH has been under question from day one as severely ill children with inflammation of the brain and disturbed mental function are rapidly deteriorating to death in a matter of hours after coming to the hospital.

Skeletal remains were today discovered close to a garbage dump around the section of the hospital where autopsies are conducted.

In Bihar, SKMCH superintendent was quick to shift the onus on the principal of the medical college of the institute and said the post-mortem unit was under the charge of the medical college principal and he would investigate the matter.

“Bodies that remain unclaimed after autopsy are normally cremated in a matter of time. Human skeletal remains have been found from the area where cremations take place but it’s true that bodies should be cremated in a humane manner,” said Sunil Shahi, SKMCH superintendent.

The local police and administration rushed to the spot with Sub Divisional Magistrate Kundan Kumar and SP Neeraj Kumar refusing to comment on the shocker from Muzaffarpur, agencies said.

“We will not say anything till we hold an inquiry,” agencies quoted the SP as saying.

Public health experts, meanwhile, sounded an alarm over the status of disposal of bodies at SKMCH even if the claim of remains being from unclaimed bodies was to be believed.

“This is a huge lapse on the part of hospital authorities. Such pathetic disposal of bodies can be a cause for infection in the vicinity. It’s unimaginable to even think that bodies are being disposed so near to the medical facility, where infection control should be the top priority. We hope Bihar will respond adequately to this shocking discovery from the compounds of a state government-run hospital,” a senior public health expert said.

The Centre was yet to react to the development.

Ambulances donated; Kanhaiya denied entry

• A former IPS officer on Saturday donated two ambulances, a hearse and other materials to the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital
• Acharya Kishore Kunal, also ex-chairman of the Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts, donated 40,000 packets of ORS, biscuits and glucose each to the hospital
• JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar came to Muzaffarpur to visit the hospital but was not allowed to enter its paediatric ICU and general ward following an order of the hospital authorities PTI