Patwaris perform last rites of coronavirus victims as kin stay away

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7

Patwaris have been at the forefront in not only gathering information on NRIs who arrived in the state this year, but also arranging for the last rites of the Covid-19 victims. In 50 per cent of the fatalities reported to date, cremation has been done by junior revenue officers.

Talking to The Tribune, Katar Singh Lehari, a patwari posted at Sultanwind Sub Urban Mahal, who cremated the body of a Covid victim today, says it is shocking that family members are refusing to cremate their loved ones.

‘They’ll get incentive’

Appreciation letters are being given to officials performing the last rites. The government is mulling giving incentive to ‘Covid warriors’. — KBS Sidhu, Special Chief Secy, Revenue

He says he was pained at the incident in Verka last week when the villagers refused to allow the cremation of former Hazoori Raagi Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa, who died of Covid-19.

“When the villagers surrounded the crematorium and refused to allow the body to be cremated, I had to intervene and literally threaten them of strict action. It was after a lot of resentment that we could perform his last rites at a secluded place in the village,” he says, almost teary voiced.

In Moranwali village of Hoshiarpur, Jagir Singh recalls the difficulties he encountered in arranging for the funeral of a victim, who was a granthi. “The village had been sealed. No one was even ready to give us the wood for the pyre. The victim’s son, who was also tested positive, was made to wear protective gear before lighting the pyre,” he recalls.

KBS Sidhu, Special Chief Secretary, Revenue, says an appreciation letter is being given to each of these officials and the government is considering some incentive to be given to these ‘Covid warriors’.