Stray dog carries amputated limb near AIMSS Shimla, probe underway

A deeply unsettling incident near the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS), Chamiana, on the outskirts of Shimla has raised serious questions about hospital waste management and institutional vigilance.

Residents were shocked to see a stray dog carrying a surgically amputated human leg in its mouth near the main gate of the hospital on Tuesday. A video recorded by onlookers quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread public attention.

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Hospital authorities confirmed that the limb belonged to 61-year-old Attar Singh, a resident of Mandi district, who had undergone a leg amputation procedure earlier this month at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS), Chamiana.
Following surgery, the amputated limb was placed in an envelope and kept in a designated store room, pending transfer to an authorised organisation entrusted with handling biomedical remains. However, officials stated that no representative of the concerned organisation arrived to collect it.

Preliminary inquiry suggests that on the night of February 22, hospital staff were shifting trolleys from the store room and allegedly failed to properly secure the door. Though closed, it was not latched. It is suspected that the door may have been left open during the night, allowing stray dogs to enter.

On February 23, an empty envelope was found near the store area, but the seriousness of the lapse became evident only after the viral video surfaced the following day, showing a stray dog moving toward the hospital gate with the amputated limb.

Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh confirmed that Shimla police conducted a probe into the incident. Initial findings indicate that the limb had been kept in an amputation room but was accessed due to the room being left unsecured.

The Medical Superintendent of AIMSS Chamyana has ordered an internal investigation to ascertain responsibility and review standard operating procedures related to storage and disposal of human remains. Health institutions could not be fully commissioned so far and lapses in handling of the biomedical waste and other services are already under scanner of Himachal Pradesh High Court.

The incident has triggered public concern not merely because of its disturbing visuals, but due to the broader implications it carries. Handling of biomedical waste and human remains is governed by strict protocols meant to uphold hygiene, safety, and human dignity.
A single lapse — an unlocked door, delayed transfer, lack of supervision — could undermine public confidence in healthcare institutions. As the inquiry progresses, citizens now await accountability and assurance that safeguards will be strengthened to prevent recurrence.