The Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital (MCH) mortuary is facing a silent crisis—an increasing number of unidentified and unclaimed dead bodies. Between May 1, 2024 and May 13, 2025, 63 such bodies were cremated by the state. As of now, 20 still lie in cold storage, seven of which await procedural clearance for cremation.
Most of the deceased are men over 50, possibly from within the city or long-term residents from other states. Some were homeless, others abandoned, and many arrived in critical condition, reluctant or unable to reveal their identities.
“These numbers fluctuate. We do our best, but many never speak up before passing,” said Dr. T P Jayaprakash, Resident Medical Officer. All unidentified bodies are documented and go through a multi-tier process: police verification, city corporation approval, and finally, cremation at Santhikavadam, funded by the government.
Despite the rise in cases, the system remains functional. “We have 48 mortuary chambers and typically clear cases within 3–5 weeks,” said superintendent Sunilkumar B S. Delays mostly occur when cases originate from remote or out-of-state police jurisdictions.
To preserve evidence for future claims, DNA samples are collected from every unidentified body. Occasionally, relatives surface years later seeking death certificates for legal or property matters.
Some bodies meeting medical standards are handed to the anatomy department for academic use within two weeks. However, with no deep-freezing infrastructure, bodies are stored at 8°C—sufficient for two to three weeks, after which deterioration begins.