Woman dies after childbirth, relatives claim body gnawed by rats

Hisar: The Hisar district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry after woman's body was allegedly gnawed by rats at the mortuary of Civil Hospital, Hisar. Taking serious note of the matter, deputy commissioner Mahendra Pal has entrusted the probe to ADC Shalini Chetal, and directed her to submit a detailed fact-finding report within 48 hours.The administration has assured that the inquiry will be conducted in a fair, transparent and time-bound manner, and strict action will be initiated against any officials or employees found guilty of negligence. The controversy erupted on June 7, when relatives of 25-year-old Komal, a resident of Hansi, alleged that her body was ‘partially damaged' by rats while it was kept in the hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem examination. Family members claimed that when the body was taken out of the freezer, a portion of the skin on her forehead was missing, triggering outrage and protests at the hospital premises.According to the deceased woman's brother, Tarun, rats were seen moving inside the mortuary when family members arrived on Sunday morning. He alleged that a deep wound and missing skin were visible on Komal's forehead, despite no such injury being present earlier. The family further claimed that a rat was spotted near the body. The incident raised serious concerns over sanitation, security and maintenance standards at the hospital mortuary, prompting demands for accountability and an independent investigation.The family has also alleged medical negligence during Komal's delivery. According to relatives, she suffered excessive bleeding during a caesarean section and was referred to Hisar in a critical condition, but died on the way. Her body was subsequently kept in the Civil Hospital mortuary. Deputy commissioner Mahendra Pal stated that every aspect of the case would be thoroughly inquired into, and appropriate action would be taken based on the findings. MSID: 131612041 413 |