In a shocking case of medical negligence in Mahabubabad district, a tractor driver named Eldi Raju was mistakenly placed inside a mortuary while he was still alive. The incident unfolded after Raju, reportedly a kidney patient from Jajjaram village, was denied treatment at the Mahabubabad Government Hospital because he did not have an Aadhaar card or an attendant. Left unattended, he later collapsed near the mortuary, where hospital canteen staff presumed him dead and moved his body inside without proper verification.

Taking serious note of the negligence, Telangana Lokayukta Justice A. Rajasekhar Reddy directed senior officials — including the Director of Public Health, the Superintendent of Mahabubabad Government Hospital, and the District Medical and Health Officer — to submit a detailed report. The Lokayukta took suo motu cognisance of media reports and adjourned the case to November 12 for further inquiry. Simultaneously, the Director of Medical Education (DME), Dr. Narendra Kumar, has ordered a departmental probe into the hospital’s handling of the case.

To ensure accountability, a three-member investigation committee has been formed, consisting of Dr. V. Chandrasekhar (Mulugu District Superintendent), Dr. Gopal Rao (Head of General Surgery, Jangaon District Hospital), and Dr. Sridharachari (Head of Forensic Department, Siddipet Medical College). The panel will examine lapses in medical protocol, identify responsible personnel, and recommend disciplinary action. The shocking case has triggered public outrage, raising urgent questions about patient rights and the state of healthcare management in government hospitals across Telangana.