BMC withdraws order to cremate bodies of those who died of COVID-19 'irrespective of religion'
Mumbai, Mar 30: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday withdrew an earlier circular stating tat the bodies of all those who die of coronavirus in Mumbai will be cremated irrespective of the religion of the deceased.
Earlier, BMC commissioner Praveen Pardeshi had issued a circular in this regard.
"If someone insists to bury the body, they will only be permitted if the body is taken out of Mumbai city's jurisdiction and the funeral should not involve more than 5 people, it further said.
Adding that the cemetery staff should cremate the bodies using protective equipment like masks and gloves, the Municipal Commissioner added that the hospital authority should inform to the local police station and then hand over the body.
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Shortly after the circular was issued, Malik on Twitter said he has spoken to Pardeshi and the directive has been withdrawn.
Amending the order, the BMC said bodies will be allowed for funeral in Mumbai keeping in mind certain guidelines, that cemetaries should be big enough for funerals and precautionary measures be taken to avoid the spread of the virus.
Friends and family of a person who has died from Covid-19 infection can view the dead body, but not touch, hug or kiss the deceased, according to government guidelines issued.
Standard infection prevention control practices should be followed at all times include:
- Hand hygiene
- Use of personal protective equipment (e.g., water resistant apron, gloves, masks, eyewear)
- Safe handling of sharps
- Disinfect bag housing dead body; instruments and devices used on the patient
- Disinfect linen. Clean and disinfect environmental surfaces
- The guidelines allow religious rituals such as reading from holy books or scriptures, sprinkling holy water and other last rites that do not require touching of the body. However, bathing, kissing and hugging of the dead body will be prohibited.
At
the
crematorium/
Burial
Ground
•
The
Crematorium/
burial
Ground
staff
should
be
sensitized
that
Covid-19
does
not
pose
additional
risk
•
The
staff
will
practice
standard
precautions
of
hand
hygiene,
use
of
masks
•
and
gloves
•
Viewing
of
the
dead
body
by
unzipping
the
face
end
of
the
body
bag
(by
the
staff
using
standard
precautions)
may
be
allowed,
for
the
relatives
to
see
the
body
for
one
last
time
•
Religious
rituals
such
as
reading
from
religious
scripts,
sprinkling
holy
water
and
any
other
last
rites
that
does
not
require
touching
of
the
body
can
be
allowed
•
Bathing,
kissing,
hugging,
etc.
of
the
dead
body
should
not
be
allowed
•
The
funeral/
burial
staff
and
family
members
should
perform
hand
hygiene
after
cremation/
burial
•
The
ash
does
not
pose
any
risk
and
can
be
collected
to
perform
the
last
rites
•
Large
gathering
at
the
crematorium/
burial
ground
should
be
avoided
as
a
social
distancing
measure
as
it
is
possible
that
close
family
contacts
may
be
symptomatic
and/
or
shedding
the
virus