UT News Service | Shillong, Aug 23: Residents of Tura in West Garo Hills on August 23, blocked the road leading to the local cremation ground over objections against the cremation of a person who died due to co-morbidities related to COVID-19.
As per the local administration, the deceased who is 84 years old died on Sunday morning in Tura after he was brought from Tikirkilla. The octogenarian had contracted COVID-19 a few days ago detected through random sampling and over 40 people had tested positive on the same day. While those with co-morbidities were rushed to Tura for care, the rest were quarantined in Tikrikilla itself.
Following his death, the administration had decided to cremate the man in Tura following all COVID-19 protocols.
However, some locals set up a barricade on the route to the cremation ghat and when they refused to budge, the police and administration had to barge in.
“Initially there was objection. However, after deployment was done as the administration and Medical department counselled those objecting, the matter was amicably resolved. However, the relatives of the victim decided to cremate the patient in the town of Tikrikilla,” confirmed the district Superintendent of Police, Dr. M. G. R. Kumar.
The body of the COVID victim was cremated following all COVID protocols at Tikrikilla, informed Dr. Kumar.
NNN