Nagpur (Maharashtra): A 74-year-old man in Maharashtra, who died of COVID-19, was buried on municipal land in Nagpur after a local Christian cemetery insisted it will only bury his ashes.
The man received treatment at a government hospital since August 1 and died on Sunday. He was a member of the local Protestant church, his son said.
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The family approached the Jaripatka Christian Cemetery for burial. A member of the cemetery's committee told them burial was not possible as the cemetery was close to residential areas.
"We wanted a regular traditional burial without cremation (burning of the body) for which we were not getting permission. They were reluctant for the burial of a COVID-19 patient in the Jaripatka cemetery," he said.
It was getting late and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) authorities were waiting for the family's approval for the last rites to be done.
"So, we had to make a decision and they (NMC) were ready to give us a burial place at their Mankapur crematorium premises. My father was buried there as per the Christian tradition," he said.
Jaripatka Christian Cemetery president Ganesh Barve said that they had received a call from the deceased's family for his burial.
"The cemetery is situated in a residential locality and there was lack of space there due to the rains. There was also a problem of digging the grave due to rains. We referred to the instances in which some COVID-19 patients were cremated at ghats and their ashes were buried in the cemetery as per Christian rituals," he said.
"We also gave them an option for burial at Bhandewadi cemetery, which is located in a little remote area. However, we did not get a call back from them," said Barve.
When contacted, a civic official said the Jaripatka cemetery was muddy and there was the problem of digging the grave there. Besides, the family was not getting permission for burial of the body at the cemetery.
"We provided them with an alternative land for burial to which the family agreed. Graves of people from other faiths are also there," he said.
(PTI report)
