Finally Manav Kalyan Sangathan, a non-governmental organisation, has constructed a mortuary to keep unidentified bodies. The NGO, which stirred the state government after Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur took cognizance of a news item that appeared in The Indian Express highlighting the indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government, has raised the mortuary at the city railway station on the premises of the Government Railway Police. Taking a strong notice of the news item published on January 4, the HC issued notice to the state government saying, “Being a welfare state, the state government is duty bound to ensure that such a mechanism is involved whenever unclaimed bodies are found… They should be kept in a good condition before its cremation. The matter in question is of such a nature that may require suo-moto proceedings by this court,” the Chief Justice said.

The mortuary can store 5-7 bodies at a time.

Gurmeet Singh, President of the NGO said: “Earlier, we used to keep unclaimed bodies under a shed at the GRP police station, which we had named ‘Dead House’. The shed was also constructed about one and half years ago a cost of Rs 15,000. According to the rule, we have to keep unidentified bodies for 72 hours. Some bodies start stinking and worms start creeping in them due to the hot and humid weather despite the fact that we keep ice-sheets around them. So, we decided to make a proper mortuary. We approached some political leaders for aid but none came forward. Finally, we collected money from donors and constructed the mortuary. We are thankful to Sunder Dass Dhamija, who has assured two ACs for the mortuary.”

This NGO gets unidentified bodies from Dhandari Railway Station, Sahnewal Railway Station, GRP Ludhiana, Kotwali City Division number 1 and beggars who live near Shri Durga Mata Mandir, Jagraon. The NGO members said, “We want the government to allow us to cremate the bodies of persons like beggars (who have no one in this world) immediately and exempt us from the rule of keeping their bodies for 72 hours. We have appealed to the Ludhiana Civil Surgeon in this regard and also gave a written requested to state Health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla but nothing has been done so far.”

Sat Pal Sharma, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, said, “I have discussed the issue with Director Health Services, Punjab. We will act according to the government and I have yet to receive instructions in this regard.”