Chandigarh: A shocking incident in Phagwara has sparked widespread outrage after an unclaimed body was transported from the civil hospital to the crematorium in a municipal corporation garbage collection vehicle.
The matter came to light when a video recorded by media personnel went viral on social media, showing the body being carried in the same vehicle used for daily garbage collection.
When questioned, the driver claimed that this had been a long-standing practice and municipal officials were fully aware that unclaimed bodies were being moved in garbage trucks for cremation.
Soon after the disturbing visuals surfaced online, several social welfare organisations strongly condemned the act.
They accused the administration of lacking sensitivity and described the incident as a shame for humanity. The organisations demanded accountability and a complete overhaul of the system responsible for handling unclaimed bodies.
Phagwara Mayor Rampal Uppal said he was not aware of the practice earlier and assured that strict action would be taken. He said an inquiry would be conducted to fix responsibility.
Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal also called it an “inhuman” act by the municipal corporation and demanded a high-level probe into the matter.
