‘Gross negligence’: Three monkey carcasses found in Nuh medical college water tank

Three decomposed monkey carcasses were found in a water tank at a medical college in Gurugram, raising concerns over maintenance and safety.

Gurugram: Three decomposed monkey carcasses were found inside a water storage tank at the staff quarters of Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College in Nuh on Wednesday, according to a PTI report.

The incident came to light earlier this week after residents complained of foul smell (HT)

The incident came to light earlier this week after residents of the nursing staff quarters in the EWS-1, 2, and 3 blocks complained of foul-smelling and contaminated water supply.

When workers were called to clean the overhead tanks, they found three decomposed monkey carcasses. A video of the discovery soon circulated on social media, with resident staff alleging negligence in maintenance by the hospital.

During the initial checks by the residents after the foul smell, one monkey carcass was found. However, when the water from the tank was drained out, the health and cleaning staff found two more bodies, according to locals.

Director of the medical college, Mukesh Kumar, said the tanks were immediately emptied and cleaned, and the water supply was temporarily halted as a precaution.

According to officials, the state health department has since ordered a probe to ascertain how the animals gained access to the tanks and to fix responsibility for the lapse.

The tank is located on top of the EWS-3 building, which houses contractual workers, Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) staff, and some regular employees. While most drinking water is supplied through water coolers, some people still rely on tank water for daily use, residents said.

The incident also triggered a political row, with Congress MLA from Nuh Aftab Ahmed alleging “gross negligence” on the part of the administration. He said the condition of the medical college has been deteriorating, claiming that patients are not receiving adequate treatment and that essential medicines are often in short supply.

“The discovery of dead monkeys in a water tank is extremely serious and reflects the failure of basic maintenance and oversight,” Ahmed said, adding that the region has been consistently neglected.

Staff members residing in the building alleged that the tanks were not regularly cleaned or maintained by the authorities, adding that monkeys and other animals often damage the lid of the water tanks and access the water.

The medical college authorities, however, said immediate corrective steps were taken after the issue surfaced and that water quality checks are being carried out.

Health officials said that further action would follow based on the findings of the inquiry.