The Telangana Health Department has officially launched an inquiry into a bizarre incident at the Mahabubabad Government General Hospital (GGH). Numerous reports have surfaced claiming that a man was mistakenly locked inside the hospital’s mortuary and surprisingly emerged the following morning. However, hospital authorities vehemently deny these allegations, asserting that human survival within the extreme low temperatures of a mortuary freezer for an entire night is medically unfeasible.
Dr. B. Srinivas Rao, the hospital superintendent, provided clarification on the events. He stated that on Wednesday, October 30, a 45-year-old man named Vendi Raju, identified as a destitute and former truck driver from Jayaram village in Gudur mandal, collapsed near the mortuary’s compound during a heavy downpour. Dr. Rao highlighted that the hospital itself and the mortuary are situated on opposite sides of the road.
Eyewitnesses observed Raju falling near the mortuary gate and promptly assisted him by moving him to a nearby bench in the open area beside the mortuary. After receiving initial first aid on the spot, he was subsequently transferred to the hospital for comprehensive medical treatment, according to Dr. Srinivas Rao.
Dismissing the widespread online rumors, Dr. Rao firmly stated that Raju was never placed inside the mortuary facility. He reiterated, “If anyone is kept inside a mortuary, overnight survival will not be possible in such extreme low temperatures.”
In response to the pervasive reports and public concern, Dr. A. Narendra Kumar, the Telangana Director of Medical Education (DME), swiftly ordered a formal investigation. A three-member committee has been established to thoroughly examine the incident. This committee includes Dr. V. Chandra Sekhar, Superintendent of Government General Hospital, Mulugu; Dr. Gopal Rao, Professor and Head of General Surgery, Government General Hospital, Jangaon; and Dr. Sridhara Chary, Professor and Head of Forensic Science, Government Medical College, Siddipet.