Long queues at cremation centres in Agra as bodies pile up.
Long, serpentine queues of individuals awaiting the cremation of their pricey ones has change into a standard sight at numerous crematoriums in town amid the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.
According to officers, there was a rise in the variety of bodies delivered to the crematoriums as in comparison with the pre-COVID instances.
Family members of coronavirus victims claimed that they’ve to attend for 3 to 4 hours to finish the final rites of their deceased kinfolk as round 80 to 100 bodies are delivered to the crematoriums on daily basis as in opposition to 10 to twenty bodies earlier than the pandemic outbreak.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Agra, RC Pandey, nonetheless, mentioned the rising deaths may be as a result of non-COVID causes like coronary heart failure, chest infections, amongst others.
The administration committees of the crematoriums in town have began issuing coupons and tokens to individuals to keep away from inconvenience to them.
Tajganj cremation centre close to Taj Mahal is likely one of the primary crematoriums of Agra the place electrical and non-electric centres perform. Shri Chhetra Bajaja committee manages and takes care of the premises.
Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, in-charge, Shri Chhetra Bajaja committee mentioned, “The situation is worsening these days. Around 35-40 bodies are brought to the electric crematorium at Tajganj every day these days. Over 50 bodies reach the main crematorium daily.”
“In regular days (pre-COVID instances), 10-15 bodies was once cremated at the electrical centres, and 10-20 bodies at non-electric centres. The numbers (of bodies) have gone up because the outbreak of coronavirus,” he mentioned.
Gupta mentioned the crematoriums are actually issuing tokens to individuals ready for conducting the final rites of their kinfolk.
“To keep away from inconvenience to members of the family, we’re issuing tokens to them for conducting the final rites. Due to the heavy load, we’ve got to ask the individuals to attend for 2 to 4 hours as there are solely 4 electrical furnaces at the electrical crematorium at Tajganj,” he mentioned.
A caretaker at a crematorium mentioned it was the primary time in his life that he had seen such a rush at the cremation centres.
“I have been working here for about 40 years. This is the first time I have seen such a large number of bodies being brought to the cremation centres,” he mentioned.
He additionally mentioned that every one accessible empty areas at the cremation centres, be it galleries, massive grounds or different areas, are getting used for cremating bodies.
Meanwhile, Agra Municipal Commissioner Nikhil Teekaram Funde assured the individuals of acceptable preparations at the cremation centres in town.
According to the info launched by the district Justice of the Peace workplace on Thursday, 208 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Agra since March final yr and 5 deaths have been reported in the final 24 hours.
There are 15,602 COVID-19 circumstances in town, whereas lively circumstances stand at 3,746, it mentioned.
