Stray dog mutilates body inside Telangana hospital mortuary; 4 staff suspended

A stray dog allegedly entered the mortuary of a government hospital in Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district and mutilated a body kept there for post-mortem, triggering public outrage and leading to the suspension of four staff members. The incident occurred at the Area Hospital in Jadcherla town, where disturbing visuals later surfaced on social media.

The deceased was identified as 32-year-old Pole Bhimeshwar, a resident of the area, whose body had been shifted to the mortuary after being found dead in a pond under suspicious circumstances. Officials said the body was placed on the mortuary floor as the freezer was reportedly not functional and could not accommodate it.

According to hospital authorities, the mortuary had been locked by a ward attendant, but the stray dog somehow gained access to the room. By the time staff noticed and chased the animal away, part of the body had allegedly been mutilated. The visuals of the incident, reportedly captured on CCTV, sparked anger among residents and raised concerns over hospital security and infrastructure.

Following the incident, the state health minister ordered an inquiry and directed senior officials to visit the hospital and assess the lapse. The inquiry team met the bereaved family, hospital staff and police personnel while reviewing the mortuary facilities and security arrangements.

In swift action, four officials — including the hospital superintendent, the Resident Medical Officer on duty, a medical officer and a mortuary support staff member — were suspended for alleged dereliction of duty. Authorities said corrective measures would be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future, even as questions persist over infrastructure gaps at the upgraded facility.