Bolangir: With Coronavirus pandemic unleashing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude, shocking reports of denial of a dignified farewell to victims continued to pour in from various parts of Odisha. In the latest instance, stray dogs were seen feeding on the semi-burnt bodies of victims at Bijakhaman crematorium in Bolangir district.
According to reports, bodies were not burnt till the end with enough firewood. Following the broadcast of the alleged utter mismanagement at the burial ground on May 14, the district administration had appointed an Additional Tehsildar at the spot to supervise cremation.
However, the officials reportedly leave burning bodies midway, not caring enough to stay till the end and hence inadvertently leaving body parts behind for dogs to feed on. Incidents of dogs dragging half-burnt or buried bodies were also reported at the spot.
The additional Tehsildar, Harekrushna Rout refuted the allegations against him. “I have been given the responsibility to be present during the cremation of dead bodies and I am discharging my duty properly. I have no clue about the stray dogs feasting on the bodies,” said Rout.
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Making matter worse, the administration tried to clean the crematorium with a JCB. In the process all the semi-burnt bodies were swept away to a nearby land paving the way for the stray dogs gnawing at the scattered semi-burnt bodies.
Some parts of the half-burnt bodies rotting away for two to three days are dragged by dogs into residential areas which have posed a threat to health of people in this difficult period of the pandemic.
The horrific scene has disturbed the kin of the deceased. “The dead bodies should be honoured with proper cremation. The bodies should be burnt till the end with enough firewood. The apathy of the administration has compounded the ongoing health crisis and we all are disturbed,” said the kin of a deceased.
(Edited by Ramakant Biswas)