North Bengal Medical College stops accepting unidentified bodies as morgue reaches full capacity

North Bengal Medical College has stopped accepting unidentified bodies due to overcrowding in its morgue. The facility, which has a capacity of 16 coolers, is currently housing 40 bodies, overwhelming the morgue’s storage space. As a result, the medical college has announced that no more unidentified bodies will be accepted. Bodies arriving for autopsy will be returned to their respective police stations after the examination, creating significant logistical challenges. The decision was made after it became clear that the morgue could no longer store additional bodies without compromising its ability to handle future arrivals.

The morgue serves as the primary facility for autopsies in Siliguri and surrounding areas, including Kurseong, and rural regions such as Maticdara, Naxalbari, and Phansidewa. On a daily basis, multiple bodies from these areas arrive for forensic examination, and the volume has steadily increased. For unidentified bodies, a legal process dictates that they must be held for seven days while efforts to identify them are made, including the publication of the body’s photo. However, delays in the police’s responsibility for cremating these bodies have led to a buildup of unclaimed corpses at the medical college.

The forensic department at North Bengal Medical College has formally urged local police stations to expedite the cremation process for the bodies already stored at the morgue. Despite several reminders, many bodies are still awaiting cremation. Rajib Prasad, the head of the forensic department, emphasized that the responsibility for cremating bodies after a certain period lies with the police, and that the medical college can no longer store these bodies due to lack of space. He stated that some bodies have already been cremated, but many remain uncremated, adding to the pressure on morgue facilities.

In an effort to resolve the situation, the medical college has instructed police stations to take the autopsied bodies back and arrange for their storage or cremation. The growing number of bodies, coupled with delays in the cremation process, has created a significant backlog, and authorities are looking for immediate solutions to prevent further strain on the morgue. While there is optimism that the situation will stabilize, the backlog remains a critical issue for both the police and medical authorities.