India: Villagers stop funeral of Covid victim, say fumes may infect others

 

Villagers in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur stopped cremation of a person who had passed away due to Covid-19, claiming that the fumes from the fire would spread coronavirus in the nearby areas and infect the residents. The incident took place in Jodhpur’s Nayapura village.

The victim, Tilokchand Soni, had died on Monday while undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at MDM hospital in Jodhpur. As per Covid-19 protocols, the family member took the body to the nearest crematorium in Lalsagar for the final rites.

As soon as the ambulance arrived with the body and the family members prepared for cremation, some people arrived at the site and asked them to cremate the body somewhere else as the deceased was Covid positive and the villagers believed that the fumes from the cremation could spread in the area and infect those who lived nearby as well.

Despite repeated attempts by the family to reason with the villagers, the cremation wasn’t allowed at the site. Tilokchand’s brother, Moolchand, said he tried to convince the villagers for a long time but finally gave up and took the body to another crematorium.

The family of the deceased had to go to a crematorium situated 10 km away in Naugari Gate to finally cremate the body.