Demand for action after bodies get swapped at hospital morgue

By Jibachh Yadav, Lahan, Jan 27: The victims’ families have demanded action against the responsible doctors and hospital administration, alleging that bodies were exchanged at the mortuary of Ramkumar Sharad Uma Prasad Murarka Provincial Hospital in Lahan. Demand for action after bodies get swapped at hospital morgue

The bodies of Nisa Baniya of Golbazar Municipality–3, Siraha, and 17-year-old Radhika Sah of Karebona, Khadak Municipality–1, Saptari, who were both found dead by hanging on January 24, were brought to the hospital for post-mortem examination.

On Sunday, believing it to be Radhika’s body, her uncle Sativ Sah took the body home and performed the funeral rites. 

However, on Monday morning, when Nisa Baniya’s father, Purnabahadur Baniya, arrived at the hospital to receive his daughter’s body, he stated that “the body was not of my daughter.” A search then revealed that the bodies had been exchanged.

According to the Area Police Office, Lahan, when Radhika’s uncle Sativ Sah, who had taken the body of Radhika on Sunday, was asked to identify the body kept in the mortuary, he acknowledged that it was indeed his niece Radhika’s body. 

Sativ admitted that he had received the body in an unconscious state, could not identify it properly, and had performed the funeral rites for that body.

Saying that it took him two days to arrive from Mumbai, the capital of India’s Maharashtra state, Nisa’s father Purnabahadur Baniya, accused the hospital administration—especially Medical Superintendent Ranjit Kumar Jha of gross negligence leading to the incident.

He said, “It is unbelievable that an uncle could not recognize the body. This has happened with the collusion of the hospital. If action is not taken against those responsible, I will stage a protest.”

Hospital Development Committee Chairperson Ramnarayan Mehata stated that since the body was handed over without proper identification, an investigation will be conducted and recommendations will be made to take action against those at fault.

Calling the demand for action by the victims’ families justified, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kailash Rai of the Area Police Office, Lahan, said that a thorough investigation into the incident is underway.