Covid Patients Bodies Kept For 15 Months in ESI Morgue

Taking serious note of the shocking incident wherein the decomposed bodies of two COVID-19 patients (who died during the first wave in 2020) that were found in the mortuary of ESIC Model Hospital in Rajajinagar in Bangalore after 15 months, the Employees State Insurance Corporation, which comes under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has removed the incumbent Dean and Director Jithendra Kumar.

In his place, Renuka Ramaiah, director professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital has been appointed as in charge dean and director. An order copy in this regard was issued by Assistant Director Sanjay Kumar Gupta on Wednesday.

Sources in the hospital said an investigation team from the head office is expected to arrive at the hospital on Thursday for a thorough probe into the incident. The team is expected to submit its report in the next one week.

“More heads are likely to roll after the team submits its report,” sources said.

The bodies were recovered last Friday evening, at the cold storage when the housekeeping staff went there for cleaning.

The families of the victims, who were earlier told that the bodies were cremated, were stunned at the turn of events.

They were informed by the police about the bodies still being in the mortuary.