We Have Just Space For 150-200 More, Says Delhi's Largest Cemetery As COVID Death Toll Grows
Families mourning the death of their loved ones who succumbed to COVID-19 infection are now facing another challenge - the struggle to give them dignified last rites.
As the COIVD-19 continues to claim more and more victims every passing day, crematoriums and cremation grounds are overwhelmed with the number of bodies that reach there for last rites.
Double number of bodies
Crematoriums and cremation grounds in Delhi are receiving nearly double the number of bodies now, out of which a large portion are to be cremated as per COIVD-19 protocol.
According to official figure on confirmed and suspected cases, the virus has killed 409 people in Delhi in the first 13 days of April, while it had claimed 117 lives in the entire month of March and 57 in February.
This substantial rise in the fatality rate has led to a rush of bodies at the city¡¯s crematoriums and burial grounds.
Suman Gupta, the general secretary of Badi Panchayat Vaishya Beese Agarwal organisation that manages the city¡¯s main crematorium at the Nigambodh Ghat said they are seeing an increase in the number of funerals.
From 50-60 cremations to 80 now
¡°Usually, around 50-60 cremations are performed here daily. The number has gone up to over 80 now,¡± he said.
At the Nigambodh Ghat, the main cremation ground of the city, currently 22 platforms and six CNG-run furnaces are being used exclusively for cremating persons dying due to the virus.
¡°The cremations of over 100 COVID-19 victims were performed in the last five days. On Tuesday, 33 bodies were cremated. We have prepared a specially barricaded coronavirus blocs where 22 platforms are being used for last rites. If needed more platforms will be added to it,¡± Suman Gupta of the Badi Panchayat Vaishya Beese Agarwal organisation that manages it said.
Around 70 staff of the cremation ground are working hard to cope with the rush of bodies.
Even Muslim cemeteries are burdened
The situation in Jadid Qabristan Ahle Islam, the largest Muslim cemetery in Delhi is no different.
"We are now left with the space for the burial of just 150-200 more Covid-19 victims," Mohammed Shamin, the graveyard's caretaker, told ANI.
The burial ground, the oldest in the national capital, is spread over an area of acres and acres of land, starting from Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and bursting out onto the Ring Road near Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
"On Monday, 25 bodies were brought for burial at the graveyard, which was the highest so far this year," he added.
The burial of COVID-19 victims requires especially dug-up graves which are being prepared through backhoe loaders as the number of deaths are rising and the digging manually would take more time and manpower, said a municipal corporation official, supervising the burials.
¡°As compared to normal graves of 4-5 feet deep, the COVID-19 victims require to be buried 12-14 feet deep. Such graves can also not be reused due to highly infectious nature of the virus,¡± North Delhi mayor Jai Prakash said.
