Surat crematorium readies pyres 10 hours in advance as deaths rise

With crematoriums across the country being hard-pressed due to an unprecedented influx of mortal remains of COVID victims, the Kailash Mokshadham cremation ground in Surat’s Pal area is keeping pyres ready ten hours in advance for the cremation of dead bodies. People dying from COVID-19 are cremated at the crematorium from 7 in the evening to 5 in the morning.

Surat: A crematorium in Surat is keeping funeral pyres ready in advance so that relatives need not wait to conduct the final rites of their loved ones. The crematorium in Surat's Pal locality was shut for the last 15 years but had to be reopened due to the rising deaths due to COVID.

Sugarcane bagasse is being given free to Surat’s crematorium

In Surat, cremation of bodies is carried out in gas chamber crematoriums or on firewood pyres. However, since green wood takes time to burn, now sugarcane bagasse, which is highly inflammable, is used with wood. The sugarcane bagasse, which sells at Rs 900 a ton, is being given free of cost by the Sayan sugar mill to the crematorium in Surat.

More than 110 cremated

While the official number of deaths in Surat due to COVID-19 is given at 25, more than 110 bodies have been cremated as per the COVID-19 guidelines in the crematoriums of Surat. Officials claim that COVID-19 guidelines for cremation are being followed for the funeral of all bodies irrespective of whether the patient was corona positive, doubtful corona case or even whose report had come as negative.

25 deaths in Surat city and district in the last 24 hours

Corona pandemic has wrought havoc in the city with an ever-increasing number of active cases as well as deaths. In the last 24 hours, Surat city and the district registered 25 deaths.