Kin refuse to cremate patient, admn gets last rites performed

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 6

The district administration took the responsibility of performing the last rites of 69-year-old woman who died of Covid-19 at a city hospital yesterday, after her family refused to claim the body, said ADC Iqbal Singh Sandhu.

The woman, a resident of Shimlapuri area, was admitted to the Fortis hospital recently after she returned from Mohali. Sandhu said members of the deceased’s family were requested multiple times to perform her last rites with full protective gear, but they did not come out of their car stationed about 100 metre from the cremation ground.

He said from collecting her body to performing the last rites, everything was taken care of by Sub Registrar Jasbir Singh. In the presence of the duty magistrate and police officials, an employee of the cremation ground was requested to cremate the body. He was provided with protective gear.

“It is the wish of all parents that their children perform their last rites. But the family members were watching this all sitting in their car,” he added.

Now, Sandhu, with the support of SDM Ludhiana (West) Amrinder Singh Malhi and District Public Relations Officer Prabhdeep Singh Nathowal, would organise “bhog” ceremony.

He said the bhog would be held at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh, Model Town Extension, on April 11.

Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal appreciated the effort of the officials and appealed to people to not fall prey to rumours or fake news related to Covid-19.

According to the Health Department, there is no risk of contracting virus in cremation of the body of a Covid patient and collecting ashes, he said

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