Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 28: As the number of deaths due to coronavirus infection has been increasing in Dakshina Kannada district, there is increased demand for electric crematoriums. The city corporation has been doing its best to meet the demand as early as possible.

At present, mortal remains of people from anywhere in the district who die due to coronavirus infection are cremated at the electric crematorium located at Boloor in the city. Electric crematoriums are preferred from a safety point of view.

However, since the last some days, four to five people have lost their lives on account of coronavirus infection on a daily basis. The city currently has only one electric crematorium and it takes about two hours for the operation to complete. Because of heat generated by the crematoriums, it is not possible to go near it immediately after one body is burnt.

Representational image

City mayor Divakar Pandeshwar, said that the tender process worth Rs 65 lac has been under way to undertake works to enable incineration of two bodies simultaneously. He also said that a new electric crematorium will be built at Nandigudda at a cost of Rs 1.15 crore, but this project may take longer to finish as construction of building is also involved, he clarified.

District health and family welfare officer, Dr Ramachandra Bairy, said that now family members get an opportunity to pay last respects to their close ones dying from coronavirus. They can have last glimpse before the body is taken to its final destination or before it is loaded into the ambulance by standing one to two meters away, duly wearing masks. He clarified that wearing a PPE kit is not necessary. The face is covered in transparent plastic to enable people to see the face without removing the cover, he stated.