Shimla: Hospital administrators at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS) issued show-cause notices to sanitation staff on Tuesday after a stray dog was filmed carrying an amputated human leg through the facility’s grounds.

The disturbing incident, which occurred on Tuesday and went viral on social media, sparked widespread panic. Security personnel attempted to retrieve the limb, but the dog became aggressive and fled before eventually dropping the amputated leg on the premises.

In response, hospital authorities formed a fact-finding committee, consisting of Nursing Superintendent Leelawati, Biomedical Waste Nodal Officer Rajesh Verma, and Matron Leela Bodh, to investigate the breach and assign responsibility.

Timeline of the Lapse

The committee, which was ordered to submit its findings by 5 p.m. Tuesday, determined that the limb belonged to a patient who underwent an above-knee amputation in the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) Department on Feb. 19.

The investigation revealed a chain of procedural failures:

  • Storage: The limb was "properly packed in a biomedical waste bag" and placed in the hospital’s waste complex for collection by the disposal firm, Enviro Engineers.
  • The Breach: On the night of Feb. 21, sanitation workers moving waste reportedly left the complex door "open and unattended."
  • The Incident: Investigators believe a stray dog entered during this window and extracted the limb from the bag. While workers discovered an empty waste bag outside the complex the next morning and attempted a search, they were unable to find the limb until the dog reappeared with it on Tuesday.

Disciplinary Measures

Following the report, hospital management demanded formal explanations from the sanitation supervisor and workers involved. Officials confirmed that "further disciplinary action will be taken based on their responses."

Additionally, the sanitation contractor was ordered to enforce stricter adherence to waste protocols. The disposal agency has also been directed to ensure the "timely clearance of biomedical waste" from the hospital according to established guidelines to prevent future recurrences.

With inputs from PTI