Malda Medical College morgue faces crisis as all freezers fail, bodies becomposing

The morgue at Malda Medical College is currently facing a severe crisis, with all five of its refrigeration units reported to be inoperative. This breakdown has persisted for over a year, leading to the decomposition of numerous corpses stored in the facility. The morgue serves as the primary facility for Malda district and also receives bodies from adjacent districts such as North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Murshidabad, along with bodies from neighboring states like Bihar and Jharkhand. As a result, the inability to preserve bodies adequately has created significant logistical challenges and health concerns.

According to reports from the morgue staff, the lack of refrigeration has led to the rapid deterioration of the bodies, which are becoming infested with maggots. As the corpses decompose, they emit a strong and unpleasant odor, affecting not only the morgue staff but also the surrounding areas of the medical college. Staff members have reported difficulties in performing their duties due to the overwhelming stench and have resorted to using cloths and handkerchiefs to cover their noses while handling the deceased. The chief employee in charge of the morgue has confirmed that the bodies are decomposing without the refrigeration necessary for preservation.

The Medical Services and Infrastructure Improvement Project (MSVP) has been involved in reporting the issues with the broken freezers to the West Bengal state health department. Despite these communications, no actions have been taken to repair or replace the malfunctioning units. The MSVP has indicated that the situation was brought to the attention of higher authorities multiple times over the past year. Additionally, reports suggest that other refrigeration units in the wards of Malda Medical College are also experiencing failures, which could further complicate the storage of medical supplies and impact patient care.

Local political leaders have raised concerns about the state of the morgue and the management of health facilities in the region. Representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have publicly criticized the state government, alleging negligence regarding the maintenance of the morgue's refrigeration units. They have called for accountability and transparency in addressing the issues faced by the facility.