Bhopal: As COVID-19 cases surge in Madhya Pradesh, crematoriums and burial grounds across the state have been flooded with bodies piling up every day with rising deaths in the state.
Ambulances could be seen lined up with bodies as many waited along the roadside for their turn to perform the funerals and looking for space to set up the pyres.
People are waiting as long as three to four hours for the cremation. Many can't perform the last rites as there is no space in the cremation ground.
People in the state said they have not witnessed such scenes since the Bhopal Gas Disaster in 1984 like they are witnessing in cremation ground now.
As per reports, owing to the continuous rise in cases, the Bhadbhada crematorium is receiving more than 30 bodies every day. In such a situation, the dead bodies are cremated in the ground near the electric crematorium.
Bhadbhada crematorium's manager, Ajit Chaudhary and secretary Mamta Sharma confirmed that they are working day and night to meet the crisis situation. Earlier they faced a shortage of pyre wood, which has now been solved after procuring wood from private vendors.
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"The electric crematorium is also functioning. The area in front of the electric crematorium is also being used to create additional crematorium stalls," they said.
When asked about the alarming situation in the state, Health Minister Dr Prabhuram Choudhary tried to brush it saying that there is no need to worry as the government is doing its best to bring the situation under control.
He further added that there is no deficiency of beds, oxygen and vaccines in hospitals.
Amid the rising number of deaths, a municipal team and activists of the social organization 'Moksha' are performing the last rites.
On Saturday, the last rites of five bodies were performed by the staff of the Municipal Corporation’s Health Department.
In this hour of crisis, the workers of Moksha Sanstha are working with a great sense of dedication. At the same time, the health workers of the Municipal Corporation are also forced to do this risky job but without any financial incentive as they are getting the old salary only.
The situation in Jabalpur city is also very grim. Still, more than two thousand people infected with COVID-19 are under treatment in different hospitals.
It is pertinent to mention here that six COVID-19 patients died allegedly due to lack of oxygen availability in a private hospital in Bhopal in the last two days.
A doctor working in a private hospital also agreed that there is a severe shortage of oxygen supply. He also appealed to the government to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen.
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