Setting an unforeseen precedent in Tamil Nadu's campaign in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the government hospital in the Theni district has invited massive flak for reportedly dumping the bodies of the COVID-19 victims on the floor and leaving the relatives to identify the victims of their family from what was a pile of corpses. The apathy had shocked the state and triggered a demand for action on the responsible people at the hospital. 

The video from the spot showing the bodies being dumped at Theni Medical College Hospital was shared and had gone viral on social media. The video had shown the corpses of victims were placed on the floor and few family members were being permitted inside the mortuary to take back their deceased family members without any supervision and in violation of COVID-19 norms. 

According to reports, as the video had gone viral, the health and revenue officials had ordered a probe on Wednesday. The district administration has suspended a temporary staff member in the hospital behind the act. The reports say that the preliminary investigation revealed that the shocking incident has come to light after 47-year-old Baladhandapani had died due to the COVID-19 viral infection. 

He was initially admitted to Periyakulam Government Hospital with symptoms of the novel coronavirus. His health had started worsening post which he was transferred to the Theni Government Medical College and he was provided with oxygen support. However, his health had attained a setback and succumbed to the pandemic on Monday.  

The medical staff in the hospital had wrapped his body in a plastic sheet and placed it on the floor of the mortuary along with other bodies. The reports say when the family members of the deceased reached the mortuary, his relatives said that staff members had allowed one of the family members to enter and take the body with them, which in a way has become a clear violation of the Standard Operating Procedures. 

As per the procedures, the bodies of the COVID-19 victims should be cremated by civic authorities by following protocol and not family members. The video had shown that several bodies of the victims are wrapped in a blue plastic sheet and piled up on one another. Several political leaders had slammed the hospital and the state government and demanded strict action against the people who were responsible for the incident. 

In an explanation, Dr Balajinathan, the Dean of the Medical College, had apologized for the incident and said that the gate of the mortuary has been locked down. By citing that security personnel would guard the mortuary round the clock, he stated that action will be initiated against the staff members.