Mayo Hospital morgue crisis: Bodies rot as freezers fail

Lahore’s largest hospital, the historic Mayo Hospital, is facing a grim crisis as all freezers in its morgue have stopped working for over a week, leading to severe decomposition of the dead bodies kept there.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, 17 dead bodies are currently lying in the morgue, and due to the breakdown of all refrigeration units, an unbearable stench has begun to spread throughout the facility. 

Sources confirmed that despite repeated complaints, the hospital administration has failed to repair the malfunctioning equipment, raising concerns over the ability to preserve bodies in case of sudden disasters or mass casualties.

Mayo Hospital’s morgue has the capacity to store up to 84 bodies. However, the ongoing freezer failure has rendered the facility nearly useless. 

Health officials warn that in the event of a major emergency, there would be no effective way to preserve corpses, putting additional pressure on an already strained system.

Historically, Mayo Hospital's morgue has played a critical role during major tragedies in the city, accommodating most of the victims from mass casualty events. Now, with its current state of disrepair, the city faces a dire shortage of space for proper body storage.

Further highlighting systemic negligence, a report from March 2025 revealed that nine unidentified bodies were lying unclaimed in the morgue of Mayo Hospital.

Mayo Hospital, established in 1871 and named after the then Viceroy of India, the Earl of Mayo, is one of South Asia’s largest and most prominent medical institutions. 

Spanning over 54.6 acres and equipped with 11 gates, it stands as a beacon of public healthcare. However, its current morgue crisis raises serious questions about infrastructure maintenance and administrative accountability under the government's new policy of privatising the public hospitals, including Mayo Hospitals.

Reporter: Rana Faran Yameen