The district hospital depends on the morgue of KMC Hospital, Manipal to keep the dead bodies of patients and orphaned bodies for a few days, till they are claimed by their kith and kin. Meanwhile, the hospital authorities have to pay Rs 1,000 for each dead body to store it in their morgue. The additional expense that has to be borne on orphaned bodies by the police is a strain on them, alleged the Nagarika Samiti.

Nagarika Samiti urged the district administration to restore the facility at the earliest. Otherwise, they will stage a similar protest during Independence Day parade at Ajjarkad Maidan here, said Nityanand Olakadu, secretary of the Samiti.

The district surgeon Dr Dayanand Nayak said that the issue had been addressed to director of health department on the instructions of state health minister Sriramulu a year ago. The technicians who had assessed the working of two chillers installed at district morgue informed that one machine is functioning well, while another needs repairs which would cost Rs 8,000 that should be borne by the health committee. The issue has been pursued for the last six months with reminders, said Dr Nayak.

Nagarika Samiti activists Ganeshraj Saralebettu among others was present.