Date:28/10/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/10/28/stories/2003102811550300.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Unclaimed body of girl lies in morgue

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD OCT. 27. When the six-year-old Sravani suffered burns, the caring father rushed her to the hospital. But when she succumbed, he abandoned her and her unclaimed body has been lying at the morgue for the last two days.

The heart-rending case was reported at the Osmania General Hospital on October 25. One Govindu (resident of Uppal as per the hospital records), admitted his daughter, Sravani, who suffered burns, to the hospital around 3.15 p.m. A few hours later, the girl died while undergoing treatment.

When they tried to convey the sad news, the hospital staff was shocked to learn that the victim's father was not there. Except Govindu, the girl had no other attendant at the hospital. Even in the hospital register, Govindu mentioned that he was a resident of Uppal Bus Depot area. There were no other details.

The Uppal police tried in vain to locate Govindu after they were informed of the girl's death by the hospital authorities. "We requested the doctors to keep the body in the freezer for one more day hoping that her relatives would come to collect the body", the Uppal SI, Ramesh, said on Monday. The police has decided to request the doctors to conduct the post-mortem if nobody came forward to claim the body even on Tuesday, he added.