Chennai: Tension prevailed in Alandur burial ground after grieving relatives who came to collect ‘asthi’ (left over bones and ashes of a corpse) of a 93-year-old dead person, were shocked to see the half-burnt corpse at the Chennai Corporation crematorium.
Tension mounted as relatives of the deceased gathered in angst. Corporation and police officials rushed and pacified the agitating group by promising departmental action for the negligence.
Relatives of the deceased N. Paraman said that they returned on Monday to collect the ‘asthi’ and grew suspicious over the behaviour of contract staff at the burial ground.
“When we asked them to open the gasifier furnace, they refused and we were shocked to see half burnt corpse of our relative,” the relatives said.
The son-in-law of the deceased, advocate N. Palani, along with local residents staged a protest seeking action against the errant staff. “We local residents condemn this inhumane act and we have collectively registered our protest to ensure that in future the burial ground assistants do not play with our rituals and emotion,” said M. Kesavansathya, a resident of Palavanthangal.
He also alleged that there was another half burnt body in the gas furnace. The relatives completed the cremation by bringing in staff from nearby crematoria. The corporation should take stern action for negligence, he said.
Meanwhile, corporation sanitary inspector Divya and the local police who rushed to the spot pacified the agitated public by promising departmental action against contractor Kumaraguru and his staff Ramesh.
Preliminary inquires by the sanitary inspector revealed that there was no adequate gas cylinder stocks to operate the furnace to complete the cremation. “A report in this regard will be submitted to Ripon Buildings for further action”, a corporation official said when contacted.
