BMC directs cremation of all COVID-19 dead, allows burial outside Mumbai

 BMC order likely to spark conflict between the neighbouring corporations.

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday issued a circular prohibiting burial of dead bodies of the patients who die of Covid -19. Though the corporation claims to have taken the decision to prevent the spread of the virus from the bodies buried, it has left a loop hole that allows burial if one insists for. It is with rider to make all the arrangement to take the body out of BMC jurisdiction and bury at government approved graveyard.

The circular issued by Municipal Commissioner, BMC Praveen Pardeshi says, all the dead bodies of COVID-19 patients should be cremated at the nearest crematorium, irrespective of religion. It also directs that the rituals involving touching of the body should be avoided. The decision, according to the circular, is taken after Community leader brought to the notice of Pardeshi, that existing burial grounds are in highly dense locality with high chances of contamination of dense community/residential areas nearby.

“The procedure of packaging the body in plastic bag and burying the same prevents early decomposition and has high risk of virus spread in future. Hence all the COVID-19 dead bodies should be cremated to avoid transmission chances in the community,” the circular says, adding, the funeral should not involve more than five people. The civic body has instructed the hospital authorities to inform the local police station about such deaths and hand over the body after confirmation of the above.

Now, the Catch22 is that the same circular says, “However, if someone insists to bury the body, he will permitted only if the dead body is taken out of Mumbai city jurisdiction in a burial ground and transport and other arrangements are made by the concerned on their own following all the guidelines and precautions as given for disposal of dead bodies of Covid-19.

This, in all probabilities will lead to insistence on burial. The relaxation given by BMC has irked the civic officials at adjoining cities of Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mira Bhyander. “This is not at all acceptable. If burial of dead bodies of Covid-19 can spread virus in Mumbai, would it not happen in Thane? How can such a directive be issued? We will have to ensure that no such body is buried anywhere in the jurisdiction of our city,” said a senior official from Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) who did not wish to be named.

The circular will not only pose a problem for civic officials but also for the police department, controlling the district and city borders. The entire police department that is already burdened with the task to control the errant mob that is defying lockdown orders, will have one more reason for conflict with citizens at every check point to verify the documents to ascertain that it was a natural death.

“We are already inundated with calls of people defying lockdown orders. There are many who are just out on an adventure trip on empty roads. We are forced to use power to control such mob. Verifying documents with every dead body coming in our jurisdiction would be an added burden on the police force,” said a senior police officer. Municipal Commissioner, BMC Praveen Pardeshi could not be reached for his version. Text messages sent to him were un-answered.