Bengaluru: Logistical issues see BBMP cremate bodies irrespective of community or religion
In Bengaluru, cremation of bodies is taking place due to certain logistical issues, irrespective of the community of religion of the deceased COVID-19 victims.
Bengaluru: BBMP cremating bodies irrespective of religion | Photo Credit: PTI
Key Highlights
- BBMP has been cremating bodies in Bengaluru irrespective of the deceased person's religion
- The situation arose due to logistical issues regarding the burial of COVID-19 patients' bodies
- Religious leaders have reached out to the government for alternatives
With the ever-increasing number of deaths due to COVID-19, the burial of bodies has become a huge issue for authorities. The challenge has been such that in Bengaluru, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has been cremating bodies despite the religion or community of the deceased.
Civic officials spoke to Economic Times and spoke about the city's graveyards that are extremely congested, especially at entry points which makes it difficult for earthmovers to enter. With the burial protocol suggesting that it's a must for COVID-19 bodies to be buried in a 10-ft graveyard, earthmovers are a must in order to dig a grave as deep.
“But there is no space for earthmovers to move in the cemeteries,” BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said.
“We are now left with no other option but to cremate bodies irrespective of community or religion the deceased belongs to,” the commissioner further said.
Certain communities have raised objection to the authorities' decision to cremate the bodies instead of burying them and have asked the government to provide them with alternatives.
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“Cremation is unacceptable in our community. We have petitioned the government and ministers to provide us with an alternative at the earliest,” JA Kantharaj, public relations officer of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, said
He further explained that people have been objecting to the burial of bodies citing the misconception that the virus can spread even from the dead.
“Even then, if the earthmover makes its way to a congested graveyard, maximum two bodies can be buried in a day,” he said.
The community leaders have asked the government to allot the land reserved for the Church to be used for burial.
At present, a total of 12 crematoriums are under BBMP and the civic body is using 4 of them for the cremation of COVID-19 victims.