Corporation officials warn people from extorting money from kin of Covid-19 victims for cremation
Coimbatore: When the second wave of Covid-19 hit Coimbatore in March, infection spread rapidly across the district. Tough measures taken by the Tamil Nadu Government to curb further spread of Covid-19 helped Coimbatore district witness a decline in fresh Covid-19 cases in the past week.
However, with the steep death rate in Coimbatore climbing due to the second wave of Covid-19, the city's crematoriums began to overflow with corpses. In view of the increasing number of deaths, steps were being taken to cremate bodies in 12 electric cemeteries in Coimbatore. While the Corporation charged Rs.2000 for cremating a body, outsiders hangiing around these crematoriums have reportedly been bargaining for Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 15,000 to cremate Covid-19 victimes, thus deceiving innocent kin who were already mourning the loss of a loved one.
Velliangiri, the Area Secretary of Peelamedu Magistrate's Court, said, "Some people are charging a high fee of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 15,000 simply by talking to the public who arrive at the crematoriums to cremate in the Peelamedu area. We need to take appropriate action to alleviate the inconvenience during this difficult time for the public by issuing a receipt."
Corporation officials say, "12 electric cemeteries have been set up to cremate the Covid-19 victims. Accordingly, steps have been taken to set up 2 crematoriums at Saravanampatti, 12 at Singanallur, Nanjundapuram, Kavundampalayam, Veerakeralam, Thudiyalur, Peelamedu, Athupalam, Sokkampudur, Podanur and Siddhapudur. For bodies to be cremated, only Rs. 2,000 is being charged and we have advised the public not to be fooled by outsiders. Action will also be taken against those who deceive people."
However, with the steep death rate in Coimbatore climbing due to the second wave of Covid-19, the city's crematoriums began to overflow with corpses. In view of the increasing number of deaths, steps were being taken to cremate bodies in 12 electric cemeteries in Coimbatore. While the Corporation charged Rs.2000 for cremating a body, outsiders hangiing around these crematoriums have reportedly been bargaining for Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 15,000 to cremate Covid-19 victimes, thus deceiving innocent kin who were already mourning the loss of a loved one.
Velliangiri, the Area Secretary of Peelamedu Magistrate's Court, said, "Some people are charging a high fee of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 15,000 simply by talking to the public who arrive at the crematoriums to cremate in the Peelamedu area. We need to take appropriate action to alleviate the inconvenience during this difficult time for the public by issuing a receipt."
Corporation officials say, "12 electric cemeteries have been set up to cremate the Covid-19 victims. Accordingly, steps have been taken to set up 2 crematoriums at Saravanampatti, 12 at Singanallur, Nanjundapuram, Kavundampalayam, Veerakeralam, Thudiyalur, Peelamedu, Athupalam, Sokkampudur, Podanur and Siddhapudur. For bodies to be cremated, only Rs. 2,000 is being charged and we have advised the public not to be fooled by outsiders. Action will also be taken against those who deceive people."