Body rush prompts Siliguri officials to start wood funeral pyres, Eight Covid- 19 patients die in Siliguri

SNS, SILIGURI. 4 MAY 2021: Overwhelmed with bodies, the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) has started using the traditional firewood pyres to cremate people who die after contracting Covid-19 at the crematorium at Sahudangi, where only electric furnaces are used.  The administration is also looking for additional cremation grounds, it is learnt.

SJDA officials said the decision had been taken to manage the rush, at a time when Covid-related deaths had been on the rise.

"One furnace is operating there constantly, given the rush of bodies at the sole cremation ground in the town (that is used to cremate bodies of Covid patients). As the flow of bodies at the crematorium increased, we decided to introduce the wooden pyres," an official said.

Sources said 10 bodies can be cremated in a single pyre at one go.

The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) is providing the firewood for the purpose, it is learnt.

The sources said that till afternoon today, the body count at the crematorium was around 47, which had been piled up. The bodies are taken there usually from Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts.

"There has been a rise in the number of bodies for the past few days. The recent Covid resurgence has increased the same. The situation is going to be difficult," sources at the crematorium said.

The husband of a woman, who died after contracting the virus, said he waited outside the crematorium for three hours.

"My wife died at the Siliguri District Hospital there were many bodies lined up when I came. I am waiting outside for the past three hours. It is an unbearable pain, when you lose your near and dear ones, and also you are unable to see their faces," a resident of Milan Pally in Siliguri said.

According to local gram panchayat (GP) members, they were finding it "uncomfortable," seeing the pyres burning.

"It is very disturbing. It looks like a mass cremation. People are panic-stricken to see the pyres burning. Another non-functional furnace should be repaired immediately for the cremation," said the Fulbari- I GP member Bikas Roy.

Bodies wrapped in plastic as per the Covid-19 protocol are allegedly being dumped at the crematorium.

Meanwhile, administrative sources said that the state government has decided that bodies will not be stored at the cremation and that they would be cremated in a dignified manner.

Sources said the administration has also "thought about" using the Kiranchandra Crematorium in Siliguri, where non-Covid bodies are cremated, if needed.

"According to the government guidelines, cremation can be done between 10 pm and 5 am. After 5 am, the area will be sanitized for the cremation of other bodies," an official said.

Meanwhile, a relative of a deceased has alleged overcharging by a private ambulance in carrying a body for cremation.

"My father in-law died in home isolation today. I contacted a private ambulance operator, and they demanded Rs 15,000, then we contacted the SMC. I was told it will take a few hours more, but it was not possible for us to wait as it could spread infection. Therefore, finding no option, we again contacted the private ambulance. I have paid Rs 12,000 so far," a Siliguri resident said, adding that the body was at number 45 in the cremation list.

Eight Covid- 19 patients die in Siliguri

Five persons, who had tasted positive for Covid- 19, died at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital today. Among the deceased was a 17 year-old girl, sources said.

A 35-year old resident of Pradhannagar, a 68 year old from Jhankar More, a 17 year old resident of Rongli, a 45 year old woman from Kisanganj, a 58 year old resident of Dangi Para died at the NBMCH.

An elderly couple of Hakim Para died in a private nursing home in the past 24 hours. The husband died yesterday, while the wife today, sources said. Their family members alleged that the nursing home authorities refused to release the bodies, and demanded more than Rs 10 lakh. The sources said the family contacted the administration over the phone.

A woman from Jalpaiguri district also died in a private nursing home.

312 fresh Covid-19 cases in Darjeeling district

Darjeeling district recorded 312 now Covid- 19 cases in the past 24 hours, sources said today.

The Siliguri Municipal Corporation, including areas under Jalpaiguri district, registered 241 cases.

Fifty-three cases were found in Matigara, 33 in Naxalbari, nine in Phansidewa, six in Kurseong Municipality, five in Darjeeling Municipality, five in Sukhia Pokhari, four each in Sukna and Takdah, three in Bijanbari, and one each in Mirik and Kharibari.