Staff on duty at a surgical ward in Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, allegedly dumped the body of an unclaimed patient outside the hospital premises, near a cremation ground.

As the incident came to light, the hospital administration swung into action, retrieved the body, and placed it in the mortuary.

​Taking note of this gross negligence, a House Surgeon and the duty staff in the ward has been suspended with immediate effect, and a departmental inquiry has been ordered.

​According to reports, the Ferozepur police had brought an injured, unidentified man to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital for treatment about a week ago. He was undergoing treatment in the surgery department of the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Monday night.

​The hospital staff in the ward, allegedly acting on the instructions of a House Surgeon posted in the surgery department, took the unclaimed body and dumped it near a cremation ground (Rambagh), which is located very close to the medical college campus.

​The matter came to light when passersby spotted the body and informed Ashok Bhatnagar, the president of the Sahara Society, a local NGO. Upon inspecting the body, Bhatnagar noticed surgical bandages on the deceased, leading him to realise that the man was a patient from the hospital.

​​The police and hospital administration rushed to the spot after being informed. The body was subsequently shifted to the hospital mortuary.

​"The hospital staff completely flouted the rules by throwing the body outside. According to standard protocol, the body should have been moved to the mortuary immediately, and the police should have been officially informed," said Ashok Bhatnagar, president, Sahara Society.

​Medical Superintendent Dr Neetu Kukkar confirmed the disciplinary action taken by the administration.

​"A departmental committee has been constituted to investigate the matter thoroughly. Meanwhile, the concerned House Surgeon and duty staff in the ward has been suspended with immediate effect. Further legal and disciplinary action will be taken once the inquiry report is submitted," said Dr Kukkar.

​DSP Tarlochan Singh stated that the body was in the mortuary, and police teams were trying to identify the deceased. Further investigation into the lapse is under way.