AIIMS Nagpur to get India's second virtual autopsy facility at cost of Rs 19 crore

Nagpur: In a significant technological advancement in the field of forensics in the city, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur is all set to have India's second autopsy facility at the newly established state-of-the-art mortuary complex on the campus. 

The institute will install this facility with the government releasing funds for its significant renovation, aiming to meet the standards of advanced technological forensic facilities found at the international level.

This new addition, the virtual autopsy facility at AIIMS Nagpur, will be the second of its kind in the country, following the footsteps of AIIMS Delhi, which became the first to acquire such a facility in 2021.

Also read- AIIMS Nagpur Inaugurates Autopsy Complex

Virtual autopsies are less time-consuming as compared to traditional post-mortem and are minimally invasive, allowing the body to be released for cremation or burial sooner which will come as a major relief for bereaved families.

The mortuary complex's renovation project, spanning 25,000 square feet, has received a substantial investment of Rs 19 crore from the government. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has already submitted the proposed plan for this project.

Speaking to TOI, Dr Manish Shrigiriwar, medical superintendent of AIIMS Nagpur said, “We are building a G+1 floor 10,000 sqmt structure.”

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about the long-awaited establishment of an autopsy facility at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur. It was inaugurated in an unprecedented event by Dr. (Prof.) M. Hanumantha Rao, Executive Director, AIIMS, Nagpur on December 19.

According to a Lokmat Times news report, the upcoming upgraded facility will prioritize specialized spaces, including separate rooms for decomposed or infectious bodies. With 8 to 10 autopsy tables and air-conditioned rooms, the mortuary is designed to provide a conducive environment for post-mortem examinations.

Furthermore, a cadaver skill lab and an autopsy auditorium for 60 delegates will contribute to educational and research initiatives. It also includes separate rooms for relatives, a designated space for police, a mourner's room and a help desk for relatives.

"The help desk will assist relatives with the status of the post-mortem such as whether the body is there or not and other similar queries," said Dr Manish Shrigiriwar.

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