LUDHIANA: The fear induced by Covid-19 is so great that in many cases, people have refused to give a final farewell to their own family members, leaving unclaimed remains piling up in crematoria.
With families staying away for fear of catching the infection, remains were stored in gunny bags by keepers of a cremation ground along with a few volunteers of city-based Dukh Bhanjan Seva Society.
On Tuesday, society members immersed the remains of over 137 Covid deceased in Neelon canal by the premises of Katani Kala gurdwara, around 25 kms away from the city.
“We had ashes and remains of over 137 deceased stocked in the store of our cremation ground.
These had been piling up in the last over one year,” they said.
Pandit Pankaj Sharma, who has been performing last rites of Covid deceased at Ramgarhia crematorium in Dholewal, one of the six cremation grounds where Covid infected deceased are being taken for cremation, said they had no choice.
“Initially, we kept the remains in a designated store, hoping that the relatives would turn up but as many of them did not and some even straight up refused to take the remains, we found it difficult to keep the remains.
We tried to reach out to the family members over the phone and through acquaintances but they started giving excuses and refused to take the remains,” he said.
There are seven other cremation grounds in the city including Dana Mandi, Daressi, Sannet, Model Town and Jamaalpur.
Sharma said things came to such a pass that they had to store remains of three to four deceased in one gunny bag outside the store, which was already filled to capacity.
“We discussed the issue with society members and it was decided that the dead should get a respectable final adieu.
Today, the remains were immersed in Neelon canal after performing religious rites,” he said.
Society members said it was sad and shocking that people still thought Covid-19 could spread from remains of the infected deceased.
Society president Ranjodh Singh said there was a need to spread awareness among residents about the spread of infection.
“The least one can expect from his kith and kin is a respectable final adieu in the eventuality of death, which is an undeniable truth,” he said.