ABP Nadu Exclusive | Piling Up Corpses, Non-Functional Crematoriums - Situation Looks Grim In Tamil Nadu

The scarcity of space at the crematorium is becoming a major problem in the country that needs the government’s quick attention. Speedy repairing work can make them functional and put into use.

The scarcity of space at the crematoriums in many Indian states has put the country in a distressing situation. Tamil Nadu is one such state where the bodies of COVID victims are waiting for their last respect piling up outside the crematory grounds. On the other hand, many electric cemeteries are left unused in many districts of TN.

Officials said that all the non-functional crematoriums would be brought into use in 2019 when a lawsuit was filed in court over it. However, it has not been put into use until now. Apparently, the reports of the non-functionality of the machines in the cemetery are being covered up.

Social activists have demanded that the existing electric crematorium be brought into use while building the new electric cemeteries during the Corona period.

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The surge of the second wave of coronavirus is grim and making the situation worse in many parts of the country. On the other hand, the rising number of deaths is adding agony for the health care workers and relatives of the deceased. People, waiting in the queues at the crematorium grounds for hours to cremate their loved ones, is leaving them in pain and distress.

Madurai has the highest number of deaths due to corona infection in the southern district after Chennai in Tamil Nadu. In this case, the bodies of the victims of the COVID disease are cremated only in the state-owned electric cemetery in Thathaneri and Keerathurai (Moolakkarai).

Not only the corpses of the victims died in government and private hospitals but also the bodies of those from the outer districts are cremated and stacked in all the cemeteries. The constantly increasing number of bodies of COVID patients has created huge pressure on crematorium worker and the piling up bodies finds no space in the morgue of the government hospital or in the crematorium.

Meanwhile, the video of the corpses of the corona victims being piled up at the Madurai Keerathurai cremation ground has caused a stir on social media. In this situation, there is a demand to open the unbuilt electric cemeteries and bring them into use.

Commenting on this, social activist P. Stalin said, “The death toll of coronavirus victims in Madurai has increased. There are only 2 electric cemeteries in Thathaneri and Keerathurai cemeteries. The corporation administration has said that it has added 3 more electric incinerators to cremate the bodies of the people affected by the corona in the Thathaneri. Thus the bodies can be cremated quickly.

At the same time, the piling up of dead bodies can be avoided by bringing the unused power cemeteries built at a cost of several lakhs many places in the Madurai district. In particular, 13 electric crematoriums have been built since 2012 under the Madurai Melur Municipality. Buildings with electricity facilities were constructed at a cost of Rs 60 lakhs.  A non-standard combustion engine was fitted and a test was made.

However, after an improper cremation of a body, it did not work. Officials said it would be brought into use in 2019 when a lawsuit was filed in court over it. However, it has not been put into use until now. Apparently, the reports of the non-functionality of the non-standard machines in the cemetery are being covered up. In many places like this the electric cemeteries lying unavailing without being put to use. This is a wastage of government money and puts the public at a disadvantage.

There will be no need to wait for the cremation of bodies in big cemeteries like Thathaneri and Keerathurai if the government takes steps to make the non-functioning cemeteries functional in various places.”

When the Melur MLA Periyapullani was asked about the problem in Melur electric cemetery, he said, "I inform the Melur Municipal Commissioner about this. We are arranging for it to open soon."

Further, Melur Municipal Commissioner Balamurugan said, "The Melur Municipal electric cemetery is in good condition. The machinery inside is in running condition. We tried to implement this through a Charitable Trust, but the people did not cooperate. People are rather cremating the bodies outside of the crematorium. We hope that we will try to make the cemetery functional by holding an all-party meeting on the 25th of this month. "

This is not something that Madurai city is facing right now. Many cemeteries in most of the urban and rural areas of Tamil Nadu remain unfinished and unused. Corpses need not wait if all of the unused crematoriums are functional in the country.