Health department staff accused of leaving behind half-cremated body in Shivamogga

SHIVAMOGGA: Charging the personnel of the Shivamogga district health department of negligence during the final rites of a Covid-19 victim at a crematorium in the neighbourhood of Rajiv Gandhi Extension, the residents on Saturday held a protest by blocking the Shivamogga-Bhadravathi Road on the Tunga River bridge. The residents demanded that the health department perform the cremation of Covid-19 victims elsewhere.
The protesters accused the personnel of the health department of not completing the cremation of a Covid victim on Friday night, when they left the venue without completing the final rites of the deceased.Leader of the opposition in the Shivamogga City Municipal Corporation (CMC) HC Yogish, on being informed about the incident, visited the crematorium and informed the officials about the same.
Local elected representatives too, on learning of the incident, rushed to the spot around Friday midnight, and took photographs of the partially cremated patient.
“Shivamogga district administration needs to be more careful in overseeing the funeral of Covid victims. This incident is evidence of negligence on the part of the officials and the health department personnel concerned. We have seen personal protective equipment (PPE) kits that have been discarded at the crematorium,” Yogish told STOI.
Shivamogga deputy commissioner KB Sivakumar, however, dismissed the allegations of the health department staff having left the crematorium without completing the last rites of the deceased. “Shivamogga tahsildar and police were present during the cremation. Action will be initiated against those who entered the crematorium without permission,” Sivakumar said.