Mangaluru city Corporation crematorium to be funeral site for COVID-19 victims

Mangaluru, Apr 26 () In the wake of the fears amonglocal people regarding the cremation of coronavirus victims,an understanding has been reached with all stakeholders thatthe Mangaluru city corporation's crematorium here will be theofficial funeral site for such cases in future.

Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, who had toface stinging criticism on social media for his allegedsupport to local people who stopped the cremation of a COVID-19 victim at Pachanady near here on Thursday, took an activerole in finding the solution.

The body of the victim, a woman, had to be taken fromPachanady to Kaikunje during the night, delaying the funeralby hours.

Kamath visited Boloor on Saturday and sought toconvince the people that cremating the bodies of coronavirusvictims would not endanger their lives in any way as theguidelines of WHO and union health ministry are being strictlyfollowed.

The crematorium at Boloor is run by the MCC and has anelectric furnace and firewood pyres.

Kamath said a tacit understanding that final rites ofCOVID-19 patients inDakshina Kannada will be performed atBoloor has been reached at a meeting with all stakeholders.

Cremating bodies in such a controlled environment isdeemed safe as per guidelines, he said.

City Mayor Diwakar, local corporator Jagadish Shettyand MCC assistant commissioner Madan Mohan took part in themeeting.

The decision was conveyed to the DK districtadministration.

The district administration has also launched acampaign on dead body management protocol to convince thepeople to ignore misinformation being spread regarding thecremation of coronavirus victims. MVG SS