A chilling incident unfolded at Maharshi Deoraha Baba Medical College in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, when a decomposed body was discovered inside an overhead water tank on the fifth floor.
The discovery was made on Monday after patients complained of a foul odor emanating from the water supply, prompting hospital staff to inspect the tank.
Upon opening the tank, they were met with the horrific sight of a decomposed male body.
Identification of the Deceased
The deceased has been identified as Ashok Gawande, a 61-year-old man from Thane, Maharashtra. According to police reports, Gawande had been missing for several days before his body was found in the hospital’s water tank.
His wife, Anita Gawande, and his brother-in-law, Prafull Nagarkar, traveled to Deoria on Saturday to formally identify the body.
Police traced CCTV footage showing an ambulance bringing an injured man matching Ashok’s description to the hospital.
The man, wearing a checked lungi and blue shirt, was admitted to the emergency ward but reportedly went missing shortly after. His body was later discovered inside the overhead tank.
Investigation and Findings
A post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia (suffocation). Authorities have initiated a murder investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding Gawande’s death.
Forensic experts have preserved viscera samples for further examination.
The police are also investigating how Gawande, who had a leg injury, managed to access the hospital’s fifth-floor water tank, which is not easily accessible.
Administrative Actions
In the wake of the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government removed the college principal, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Barnwal, from his position.
Deoria District Magistrate, Divya Mittal, visited the site and constituted a committee to prepare a detailed report, which has been submitted to the government.
The committee found several lapses on the part of the hospital, including unrestricted access to the terrace, absence of CCTV surveillance, and the presence of objectionable items such as liquor bottles on the terrace.
Public Health Concerns
The discovery has raised serious concerns about public health and safety.
The water from the tank had been used for sanitation and other non-potable purposes, but the potential exposure to contaminated water has prompted authorities to halt the water supply temporarily and alert the police.
A joint team of the police, fire department, and forensic officials arrived at the scene to retrieve the body.
Further Investigations
The police are continuing their investigation to determine how Gawande’s body ended up in the water tank and whether there was any foul play involved.
They are also looking into the hospital’s security measures and protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
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