PHAGWARA, November 19 — A disturbing lapse in human dignity has triggered sharp public anger in Phagwara after an unclaimed body from the Civil Hospital was transported to the cremation ground in a municipal garbage-collection vehicle, a practice the vehicle driver claimed had been happening for years with official knowledge.
The incident surfaced after a video recorded by mediapersons went viral, showing the body placed inside the same vehicle that routinely ferries waste across town. The footage drew immediate condemnation from several social welfare organisations, who described it as a grave insult to the dead and a painful reflection of administrative neglect.
“This is not just carelessness; it is disrespect of the highest order,” one organisation said, urging the authorities to “restore basic humanity in the system” and take swift corrective measures. Groups demanded accountability from the Municipal Corporation and called for a mechanism that ensures unclaimed bodies are handled with dignity.
The driver of the garbage vehicle, when approached by reporters, asserted that municipal officials were well aware of the practice. He claimed it had been the standard method for transporting unclaimed bodies for last rites. “This is how it has always been done. Everyone knows,” he said.
However, Mayor Rampal Uppal maintained he had no prior information about such a practice and insisted that the administration would act once facts were verified. “I was not aware of this. An inquiry will be initiated, and strict action will be taken,” he said.
Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal also expressed shock, calling the practice “inhuman” and unacceptable under any circumstances. He demanded a high-level investigation to identify those responsible for allowing the situation to continue unchecked.
The incident has intensified the debate on the treatment of unclaimed bodies, with residents and activists urging the administration to institute a respectful, transparent process instead of relying on waste-collection vehicles for the last journey of the dead.
