From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 23: Deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan has warned all government and private hospitals that they are liable for action if they delay handing over bodies of the deceased persons to their relatives.

This directive applies irrespective of whether the deceased person was suffering from Covid or any other illness, he said directing that the bodies of the deceased persons must be handed over to their relatives soon after the death.

Holding a meeting on Covid management in the city, Dr Narayan was told that the delayed release of bodies of deceased and handing them all together was leading to the piling up of the bodies at crematoria for cremation and that was causing problems.

The deputy chief minister directed the BBMP chief commissioner Gaurav Gupta to take immediate steps to ensure that all private and government hospitals promptly handed over the bodies of the deceased to their relatives as early as possible without undue delays.

He said the relatives of the deceased will be already mourning and in deep distress. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that their problems were not multiplied and they must be enabled to quickly complete all formalities of cremation or funerals.

Dr Narayan said Bengaluru city had 13 electric operated crematoria and cremation of the deceased takes a lot of time, which results in the bodies being held up in the queue in the ambulances.

Therefore, it is proposed to establish two gas-based crematoria at Sumanahalli and Giddahalli on an emergent basis. Steps for establishing similar facilities in other crematoria are also being taken, he said.

The deputy chief minister said the state government has made arrangements to provide 15 stretchers in all crematoria. The problems in the crematoria can be solved quickly if senior officials visit the crematoria frequently and monitored the situation.

He said there was a problem in the supply of medical kits for patients undergoing home quarantine and those in the primary health centres. In order to address this problem, Rs 2 lac each will be released for each of the primary health care centres.

Dr Narayan said Covid vaccines are being manufactured in seven places in the State. It is necessary to ensure proper storage and distribution of the vaccines. As many as 280 hospitals have sent requisitions for the supply of Remedisivir injections and they will be supplied in due course.