Himachal Pradesh: Man Who Died of COVID Allegedly Carried in Garbage Van to Crematorium
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New Delhi: The body of a 54-year-old COVID-19 patient was carried to the crematorium in a garbage lifting vehicle in Solan district, and was burnt in Baddi instead of his native village Arki, against COVID-19 cremation norms, news reports said.
The body of the COVID-19 patient was transported in a tractor-trailer used by the Baddi Municipal Committee to carry garbage, for cremation at Baddi on Wednesday. He had died at the ESIC Hospital at Katha in Barotiwala last night.
According to The Tribune, the deceased was to be cremated at his native village Mayana in Arki but the body was burnt at Baddi in violation of COVID-19 norms.
However, executive officer of the Baddi Municipal Committee told the daily that arrangements to cremate the body at Baddi were made on the request of the members of the bereaved family. “Due arrangements of wood, PPE kits and staff were made for the bereaved family to cremate the body. The tractor-trailer was also sanitised before transporting the body”.
The matter came to the fore after Krishan Tinku told reporters that his brother's body was handed over to them after 24 hours of death at ESI Baddi hospital.
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According to news agency PTI, Tinku alleged the authorities carried the body to a crematorium in a tractor-trolley used for lifting garbage.
He had tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago, the brother told PTI.
Tehsildar, Baddi, Mukesh Sharma told The Tribune that the tractor-trailer was duly washed and sanitised before transporting the body, as no other vehicle was available.
However, Nalagarh SDM Mahinder Pal denied the claim that no other vehicle was available, the report added. He told The Tribune that eight ambulances had been set aside only for this purpose and the phone numbers of all drivers had been provided to the officials concerned.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday ordered an inquiry into this matter, PTI reported.
Talking to media in Shimla on Thursday, the chief minister said he has asked Solan deputy commissioner K.C. Chaman to look into the matter and submit a report.
Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday reported its highest ever tally of new COVID-19 cases at 2,539, taking the cumulative total to 93,889. Besides, an all-time high of 33 deaths from the virus were reported in the past 24 hours.
The largest proportion of new cases were reported in Kangra at 693, followed by 295 in Sirmaur, 292 in Mandi, 283 in Solan, 215 in Shimla, 207 in Bilaspur, 182 in Una, 109 in Kullu, 108 in Hamirpur, 93 in Chamba, 50 in Kinnaur and 12 in Lahaul and Spiti.
Last week, the chief minister had announced "corona curfew" in four districts of the state, including Kangra, Una, Solan and Sirmour starting from 10 pm to 5 am. The curfew will be enforced till May 10.
(With inputs from PTI)
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