When will people gauze enormity of pandemic?

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: At least ten bodies of COVID-19 victims line up every day at the crematorium at Ulubari in Guwahati. However, this scene doesn't seem enough to make the 'mere mortal beings' in Guwahati or elsewhere in the State to gauze how serious the pandemic is. Still now, a large number of people violate safety guidelines and protocols.

Two crematoriums – one at Ulubari and the other at Bhootnath – are used in Guwahati for the cremation of COVID victims' bodies. As many Kabarstans – one at Athgaon and the other at Islampur – are there in the city for the burial of the bodies of COVID victims. For the Christians, the cemetery at Chandrapur is used for the purpose.

The task of cremation has been outsourced to an NGO – Nabarup – by the Kamrup (M) district administration. Talking to this reporter, a member of the NGO said, "Since June 29, 2020 we've been receiving at least ten bodies of COVID victims on an average daily at the crematorium at Ulubari. Only two next of kin of deceased are allowed under the protocol. They come attired in official PPE kits. We've to do everything on our own. However, sometimes around 50 persons come with a body and crowed the scene, risking their and our lives. It so happened recently that a nine-year-old girl died of COVID-19. Her parents also tested positive for COVID and were at COVID centres. No other relative dared to attend the funeral. There was none to sign the papers. As there was no way out, we had to sign the necessary documents.

"The job is problem-ridden now. The crematorium at Ulubari has only one chandal (one who burns bodies to ashes). Just think of a single chandal burning at least ten bodies a day! Earlier, we started cremation after 9 pm. With the rush of bodies now, we start the job from 3 pm and continue up to 1 or 2 am at night.

"Another major problem is that the crematorium at Ulubari has only two pyres. If we cremate only two bodies at a time, it will take more time. We use to make a few make-shift pyres on our own and burn eight or nine bodies together. We engage 25 labourers and two helpers for the chandal.

"The rush of bodies at the crematorium at Bhootnath can be tackled at ease. On an average two or three bodies come daily.

"While the rush of bodies is not that huge at the kabarstan at Islampur, the one at Athgaon often receives bodies of corona victims. The Kabarstan opens two or three days a week.

"The job would have been much easier for us had the electric crematorium at Ulubari been working. We've heard that the crematorium isn't working due to non-payment of some bills and non-recruitment of cremation staff."

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