Guwahati (Assam): Amidst a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and subsequent deaths across Assam, crematorium workers (Sandals) feel they are left in the lurch as they give a respectable cremation to tens of bodies every day, but they still haven't been vaccinated.
Irrespective of a lockdown or night curfew, the Sandals are bound to perform their duty without any leave.
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A crematorium worker from Guwahati said he is worried as he has to set up the funeral pyre for COVID-related deaths, yet he hasn't received his first COVID jab.
During the last few days, COVID-19 positive cases are seeing a surge in Guwahati city. Arrangements have been made at the Bhootnath crematorium in Guwahati to cremate the bodies. When the pandemic first broke out, the crematorium at Ulubari was the administration's first choice. However, due to opposition from the locals, officials zeroed in on the Bhootnath crematorium. Sources in the administration said, for now, deceased patients will be cremated at Bhootnath. However, if the region registers more deaths, the Ulubari crematorium, too, will have to be used.
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Sandal Sujit Wasefar, another Sandal, said, "Since June last year, at least 300 COVID-19 victims have been cremated at Bhootnath. A COVID-19 victim was cremated on Friday as well. The situation was more alarming last year. Up to 10 bodies were cremated in a day. A team is always ready for the purpose."
A total of 245 people have been detected as COVID-19 positive in the last 24 hours in Kamrup Metropolitan District. As per government data, a total of 1,123 people have died due to COVID-19 in Assam so far. Nine patients died in the state in the last four days.
