Rohit Shishodia

In a total blunder, bodies of two Covid-19 women patients belonging to different communities -- one a Hindu and the other a Muslim -- were swapped at Delhi-AIIMS’ trauma center.

As a result, both sets of relatives were given the body of the other family. The Hindu’s body was given to the Muslim family and the Muslim’s body was given to the Hindu family. Both women died of Covid-19.

The Muslim family was shocked that they had been handed over the body of a Hindu woman when the children of the Muslim woman saw her face just before cremation. This caused outrage among the Muslim family members who went back to the Trauma Center and dialed the police to lodge a complaint.

It is reported that the tag containing the name of the Hindu woman was attached on the Muslim woman's body while the latter’s tag was on the former's body.

It is reported that the hospital administration, with the family of the Hindu woman, as per protocol, had already cremated the muslim lady as per Hindu rituals, assuming her to be the Hindu lady. On the other hand, the Hindu woman's body was identified by the Muslim family as not their relative. Presently, the Hindu lady's body is kept in the AIIMS-Delhi mortuary, while the Muslim lady has been cremated as per Hindu rituals.

The family of the Muslim woman is staying put at the Trauma Centre, while the family of the Hindu lady is coming to the center.  

According to a source, the AIIMS administration has admitted the blunder and given directions to investigate the matter.