MAPUSA
The non-functioning morgue at the North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa has created significant inconvenience for the residents of Bardez, who are now compelled to transport bodies to the more distant Goa Medical College (GMC) in Bambolim.
This issue has sparked widespread concern and calls for urgent action from local authorities.
The morgue at the district hospital, designed to accommodate 12 bodies across three cabins, is currently facing severe operational challenges. Each cabin contains four blocks. However, only one cabin remains functional, while the other two have become unusable due to severe leakage issues.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that nearly two litres of water accumulates daily in the two faulty cabins, making it impractical and unsafe for staff to store bodies there. “We cannot take the risk of storing bodies in the two cabins that have almost been rendered non-functional. We faced the problem once and had to shift the body to GMC,” a knowledgeable source stated.
Compounding the issue, the sole operational cabin is fully occupied by unidentified bodies that have been left unclaimed for nearly three years.
This situation has deprived many residents of the critical morgue services they need during times of bereavement.
The hospital morgue was a crucial facility for the people of Bardez and North Goa, as it provided a convenient alternative to the more distant GMC. The recent breakdown has caused significant hardship. “It’s a big setback for the people of North Goa. Recently, we had to shift the body of one of our kin to GMC due to the unavailability of the morgue in the Mapusa district facility. The health minister should look into the matter and take quick action in the interest of the people,” lamented Ramesh Talkar, a resident of Bicholim.
In response to the crisis, the hospital authorities engaged an agency to assess and repair the malfunctioning units.
However, the agency reported that the two defective cabins were beyond repair. Consequently, the hospital authorities have submitted a proposal to the government for the replacement of these cabins.
“We have sent a proposal to the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) to take the necessary action on the two units of the morgue,” confirmed Dr Rupa Naik, Acting Director of Health Services.
The situation has highlighted the urgent need for infrastructural improvements at the North Goa District Hospital to ensure that it can continue to serve the community effectively.
