In yet another instance of denial of dignity to the dead, allegations of bodies being dumped at a cremation ground without performing last rites have surfaced in Kendrapara district.
Unidentified bodies were reportedly found half buried in sand at Kajala Swargadwar cremation ground in Ward No 21 of Kendrapara Municipality.
According to the allegations, the bodies were brought to the cremation ground in ambulances. The ambulance staff dumped the bodies and left without performing the last rites. There are reports of stray animal pulling out the bodies and feasting on it.
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Apart from creating panic among the residents living in nearby areas, the corpses are also causing pollution by releasing foul smell.
“Sometimes bodies wrapped in polythene bags are dumped at the cremation ground by the ambulance staff. It is natural to get frightened after seeing the bodies in such a state,” said a local resident.
The Municipal authorities said they are not cremating the bodies of Covid-19 patients at the cremation ground since the last 15 days and pointed fingers at district and police administration.
“Earlier we used to take bodies of those died of Covid-19 to the cremation ground and the last rites were conducted as per protocols. We have stopped the practice now. These might be some unidentified bodies and dumped by police,” claimed Deb Prasad Bal, executive officer of Kendrapara Municipality.