Residents resist burial of Covid victim's body in Kurnool

Kurnool: The residents of Budhwarpet in Kurnool did not allow the burial of the body of a 70-year-old Covid-19 victim on Sunday. The elderly man, whose identity was not revealed, died on Saturday.

Since the Budhwarpet Hindu Smashan Vatika is closer to the Kurnool government general hospital where the man died, police were asked to make arrangements for the burial of the body there following guidelines issued by the central government.  

When the police reached the burial grounds in the afternoon, the residents gathered in a large number raising slogans against the burial. An eyewitness said the residents blocked the police vehicles and civic authorities and demanded an end to the digging of the pit.

They expressed the apprehension that the burial of the coronavirus victim in the residential area could spread the virus in the area. Incidentally, Budhwarpet, from where eight coronavirus positive cases have been reported, is in a red zone.

The gathering of about 100 people to resist the burial of the body of the Covid-19 victim violated lockdown norms and posed a serious health hazard.    

Town CI Tabreez said that they faced resistance from the residents of Budhwarpet and “heeding to their sentiments, we came back," he said.

Kurnool RDO Venkatesh said they were searching for an alternative site to dispose of bodies of Covid-19 victims.