(Left) The state of the only morgue in Kohima in 2020 against the (Right) new morgue that was completed on March 25, 2022. (Morung Photos)
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 13
At long last, the need to have a proper morgue in the state capital has materialised. After years of neglect, the ramshackle morgue at Paramedical Colony was replaced with a new building.
The construction of the new morgue was completed in a record time of eight months, much ahead of the given time frame of 24 months. The new morgue comprises of six rooms and two toilets.
Earlier, The Morung Express highlighted the dilapidated condition of the lone morgue for Kohima district on November 21, 2020 under the heading ‘The ugly truth: Kohima’s only morgue in shambles.’ Besides, the unhygienic conditions and lack of any equipments, the building itself was crumbling.
Subsequently, the State Government sanctioned Rs 30 lakh under the State Plan 2020-2021 for the construction of a new morgue, which was reported by the paper on April 16, 2021.
As per the information provided by the engineering wing of the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, the work order was issued on June 25, 2021, right after which the work for the construction commenced on June 28, 2021.
After completion of the construction on March 25, 2022, and two days later, it was handed over to the CMO on March 28.
Despite some officials expressing their concerns on the instability of the land in the present area in 2021, they agreed that “something is better than nothing.”
As this reporter went to visit the new morgue, the transformation was evident with a semblance of a proper morgue – it has a ramp, grilled gate and the floors were tiled. As the capital awaits for a state-of-art mortuary in the Medical College, Kohima, the new morgue is presentable and decent enough to serve its purpose.
