Covid bodies queued up, electric crematorium works overtime
LUCKNOW : Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) employees deployed at the Baikunth Dham electric crematorium are working overtime as a large number of Covid bodies are being brought here every day for last rites, even from neighbouring districts.
In many cases, relatives of the deceased are not turning up to pick up the ashes for immersion, which is adding to the workload of civic workers, said officials.
“Bodies of Covid patients from other districts are also being brought to Baikunth Dham electric crematorium and our staff has to work till 10pm. There is a waiting list to cremate bodies. Our workers are taking more time because after every cremation, the machine has to be sanitised and they have to change PPE kits,” said Indramani Tripathi, municipal commissioner.
“We never saw this kind of rush at the electric crematorium. Earlier, people preferred traditional cremation with wood. But after the Covid-19 pandemic, electric crematorium is the first choice as it minimises chances of infection,” said Surya Vikram Singh, in-charge of the electric crematorium.
“At present, 12 to 13 bodies are being brought here daily, mostly from other districts. Usually, one hour was enough for cremation of a body, but in case of a Covid body, it takes around 90 minutes. This includes handling of the body, its careful placement inside furnace and full burning, followed by thorough sanitisation of the premises,” he said.
He added, “As per Hindu rituals, immersion of ashes is important, but many people are not coming to pick up the ashes for immersion. We keep ashes in special bags with the details written on them.”
“Workers involved in the cremation of Covid bodies have been given PPE kits and face shields,” said Surya Vikram Singh.
The municipal commissioner said, “To ease the load on Baikunth Dham, the LMC has started work on another electric crematorium at Gulalaghat. But, 60% of people are not turning up to gather the ashes of their deceased kin. Most of our lockers for ashes are occupied.”