Body kept in Kanjirappally general hospital morgue found decomposed

Kottayam: A body that was kept in the morgue of Kanjirappally general hospital was found in a decomposed state on Saturday, sparking protests.It was the body of Jomi Joseph (45) from Manimala that was found in a decomposed condition. Jomi's body was brought to the mortuary around 5pm on Friday. When it was taken out for postmortem around 9am on Saturday, it was noticed that the body had started to decompose. The strong stench raised suspicions among those who came to receive the body. The face and body were swollen beyond recognition. Relatives, who protested, took the body and brought it to Pala general hospital for postmortem. According to hospital authorities, mortuary at Kanjirappally general hospital has the facility to store eight bodies across two units. One unit, which includes four freezers, is not operational. The decomposed body was stored in this non-functioning freezer. Meanwhile, Kanjirappally hospital superintendent informed that two staff members who were responsible for negligence were suspended following the directive of the district medical officer. After the postmortem, the body is being kept in the mortuary of a private hospital.