BJP slams govt over withdrawal of BMC circular about cremation of COVID-19 patients

Maharashtra BJP on Thursday criticised state government over withdrawal of a circular which mandated that bodies of coronavirus patients would be cremated and t buried. Maharashtra has so far reported 335 cases, 39 have recovered while 14 deaths have been re3ported. 

Keshav Upadhye, BJP state spokesperson, on Wednesday said, "I wonder why some ministers in state government were against circular which had ordered cremation of all victims of COVID-19, as it is an advisory issued by WHO. y should have kept ir religious biases aside."

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BMC order and amendment

Issuing a new directive regarding disposal of dead bodies of Coronavirus (COVID-19), BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi, on Monday ordered that all 'bodies must be cremated irrespective of religion'. If relatives insisted on burial, it will be allowed only outside Mumbai, circular said. Immediately, Maharashtra mirity affairs minister Nawab Malik intervened and tweeted that previous order is being revoked after he spoke to Pardeshi. BMC amended order claiming that those who insist on burying COVID-19 deceased, will be allowed only if ground is large eugh so as t to create possibility of spread of virus in neighbourhood. or conditions still stand.

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Ministry of Health & Family Welfare's guidelines on dead body manment

Ministry has issued a clear SOP stating that 'crematorium/burial ground staff should be sensitized that COVID-19 does t pose additional risk'. Moreover, SOP stated that hand hygiene and use of masks and gloves must be practiced, but rituals that do t involve touching body can be permitted. While bathing, kissing, hugging body is disallowed, ministry has also stated that ash does t pose any risk and large garing should be avoided.  

Maharashtra under lockdown

On March 14, Thackeray government invoked Epidemic Diseases Act declaring Coronavirus as an epidemic - declaring all gyms, swimming pools, malls, atres, pubs shut in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Pimpri-Chinchwad till March 31 amid rising cases of Coronavirus. With railways shutting down its services on March 22 marking 'Janta Curfew', Maharashtra government extended a state-wide curfew, stopping all transport services across districts.

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(with PTI Inputs)