Labourers near a digging site in Dharmasthala. (Representative image)
Credit: DH Photo
Mangaluru: As many as 279 unclaimed bodies including the body of an infant was buried in Dharmasthala since 1987 to 2025, Dharmasthala Gram Panchayat has revealed in the information obtained under RTI.
Among the 279 unclaimed bodies, 219 bodies were of male and 46 bodies were of women. The sex of 14 bodies including of an infant could not be identified, revealed the information obtained under RTI by DH from Dharmasthala GP Public Information Officer (PIO).
As many as 17 unclaimed bodies were buried during 2003-2004, 2006-2007 and 2014-2015. 101 unclaimed bodies had been buried for the past 10 years. Dr Subash Rai (name changed) who had served at Primary Health Centre in Dharmasthala for over six months recollected that most of the unclaimed bodies were found inside the forest.
Most of the deaths was due to suicide. As the bodies were maggot-infested and reeking of unbearable stench, they would be buried at the same place, he said.