The Puri district administration on Thursday withdrew its previous order that restricted last rites of residents from other districts at Swargadwar cremation ground following improvement in the COVID situation.
In an order, the district office (emergency section) allowed all including the non-residents of Puri district to cremate their loved ones at Swargadwar adhering to all prevailing COVID norms.
Withdrawing the restrictions, the administration wrote, “The restriction imposed on observance of the funeral rites of the deceased belonging to other districts/states at Swargadwar, Puri as well as immersion of ashes at Mahodadhi in order to contain the spread of COVID is hereby withdrawn in view of decreasing trend of COVID-19 positive cases in the Puri district as well as in Puri Municipality area.”
The funeral should be performed with COVID-19 safety protocols with following terms and conditions.
-The relatives shall have to submit the necessary documents relating to the deceased at reception counter of Swargadwar Seva Samiti, Puri.
-Maximum 10 persons will be allowed to accompany the deceased.
-The relatives of the deceased will have to strictly follow the Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) such as proper use of face mask, hand sanitisers and maintenance of social distancing of 2 mtrs. etc.
The Sub-Collector, Puri-cum-Convener Secretary, Swargadwar Seva Samiti, Puri has been instructed to keep close surveillance in the matter along with strict implementation of the order and to take appropriate action in case of difficulties.
Earlier, after Odisha witnessed an unprecedented rise in daily COVID cases, the Puri district administration had ordered to not allow residents outside Puri district to perform the last rites at Swargadwar from January 10, 2022.