A TOTAL of 390 pieces of bones and skeletal remains of newborn babies and foetuses were found in a pit at a hospital here on Saturday, police said. Following a tip-off, the bones were found in the pit behind the operation theatre of Christian Hospital, Superintendent of Police Satish Saxena said.
“The thickness of skulls and bones indicates that the remains were of around three to four neonates or foetuses,” claimed district Vaccination Officer and child specialist R G Kaushal, whose advice was sought by police. Some of the remains were found in a yellow plastic bag and included parts of tissue and hair, indicating that they must have been buried after the last rainy season, he said.
The area was sealed off and samples were sent to the state forensic laboratory in Bhopal for tests, Saxena said. Claiming that it was too early to conclude whether illegal abortions were performed at the hospital, he said its staff told investigating officers that a sweeper, entrusted with the responsibility of disposing bio-medical waste, had failed to carry out the chore.
Ruling out the notion that the bones and skeletons were bio-medical waste, Kaushal claimed that skulls and bones from legs were also found. These would not form part of hospital waste, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Ruling out the notion that the bones and skeletons were bio-medical waste, Kaushal claimed that skulls and bones from legs were also found. These would not form part of hospital waste, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Further, private nursing homes use incinerators provided by the government to dispose of bio-medical waste, he noted. The hospital’s authorities were not available for comment.