PHAGWARA, November 19 — A viral video showing an unclaimed body being moved from Phagwara Civil Hospital to the cremation ground in a municipal garbage vehicle has drawn severe criticism from residents, activists and elected leaders, raising questions about long-standing administrative practices in the town.
The footage, recorded by local mediapersons, captured the body lying in the back of a waste-collection truck, prompting widespread shock and disbelief on social media. As reactions poured in, several organisations working in the social sector described the act as a shameful violation of human dignity. One such group noted that the incident “exposed a troubling lack of sensitivity within the municipal system.”
According to the driver of the vehicle, the process was neither new nor accidental. Speaking to reporters, he said the Municipal Corporation had routinely used the same trucks for transporting unclaimed bodies for last rites. “This is the usual way. Officials have always known about it,” he claimed.
The revelation intensified public anger, with many questioning how such a system could continue without oversight. Activists demanded immediate corrective action and urged the administration to introduce proper guidelines for handling bodies that are not claimed by relatives.
Mayor Rampal Uppal distanced himself from the incident, asserting that he had no knowledge of the practice. “I will ensure an inquiry is conducted. Those responsible will face action,” he said, adding that such incidents cannot be tolerated in a civic body.
Local MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal termed the incident “an inhuman act” attributed to municipal negligence. He said the use of a garbage truck for the final journey of any individual reflected poorly on the administration and warranted a thorough investigation. “A high-level inquiry must take place, and accountability must be fixed,” he noted.
The controversy has renewed focus on municipal systems and the need for humane protocols, with residents urging the government to ensure dignity for every individual—even in death.
