Nearly three-dozen human skeletons were recovered from a pond adjacent to the district mortuary in Aligarh on Saturday, prompting authorities to order a probe in the matter.

"Around 30-35 skeletons were recovered from a pond adjacent to the district mortuary this morning. An inquiry into the recovery has been ordered by the district magistrate," Additional District Magistrate Shailendra Singh said.

He said that the skeletons were being sent to Agra for forensic test.

Sources said the skeletons of unidentified persons, who were killed in road accidents and other mishaps, had been in the mortuary for over five decades.

These skeletons were handed over to a contractor for disposal, they said.

Sources said that for the last nine years till last year, a voluntary organisation Manav Upkar was performing the last rites of the unclaimed bodies.

"Manav Upkar was performing the last rites of unclaimed and unidentified bodies for the past several years," the ADM confirmed.

However, last year a private contractor was engaged by the authorities concerned for disposal of the unclaimed bodies, he said.

"The manner in which human bodies were disposed of is a gross violation of the human rights," secretary of Manav Upkar Vishnu Kumar Varshney said.