Nagpur: High drama unfolded outside the mortuary of Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Monday as desperate relatives of victims of SBL Energy Pvt Ltd explosion waited for over 24 hours without food or water to receive the mortal remains of their loved ones.The GMCH administration eventually stepped in to provide food and drinking water to nearly 50 to 60 relatives, many of whom sat outside the mortuary since Sunday morning in a state of shock, exhaustion and mounting anger. At GMCH Nagpur, Medical Superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande facilitated food arrangements, with the GMC kitchen serving meals to relatives waiting outside the mortuary on Monday evening. Relatives said they rushed to Nagpur immediately after hearing about the devastating blast, leaving home without any preparation, believing the bodies would be handed over quickly.However, the condition of bodies — severely burnt, mutilated and unidentifiable — necessitated DNA analysis, a process expected to take at least one day. The delay, relatives said, was never explained to them. With no information about shelter and drinking water facilities on the hospital premises, families were forced to spend the night in the open, sleeping on the ground and in corners near mortuary.“We stayed here the whole night thinking the bodies would come any moment. No one told us it would take so long,” said a relative of a victim from Katol tehsil. The group included women, elderly people and even a 10-year-old son of one of the deceased workers. Families travelled from Hinganghat, Pandhurna, Kondhali, Warud and nearby villages, enduring hunger, thirst and emotional trauma.Relatives alleged that no representative from the company visited the mortuary or made arrangements for food, water or basic assistance during the long wait. Though police personnel advised some families to return home and come back on Monday, many refused, fearing they might miss crucial updates or the handover of bodies.Tensions escalated when a local union leader arrived and attempted to persuade families not to insist on receiving compensation cheques along with the mortal remains. This triggered heated arguments, with relatives adamant that they would not leave without written assurance.Except for Payal Gajbhiye and Mangeshree Yeskar, mortal remains of all other blast victims were handed over to the families by 10.30pm. GMCH officials said Yeskar’s relatives were not available when called out, while Gajbhiye’s relatives said they would prefer to take custody of the remains in the morning as it was too late for holding the last rites.
