On Tuesday, May 19, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) told the Bombay High Court that Coronavirus (COVID-19) does not spread through a dead body. Officials further clarified that the transmission was not possible through the deceased, and said that the BMC was following necessary guidelines and protocols while disposing of the bodies.
The affidavit regarding the same was submitted after Pradeep Gandhy and other locals from Bandra filed a petition in the high court challenging the burial of coronated bodies. Three cemeteries in Bandra were being used for the same by the BMC and residents feared that it would be dangerous for the people in the respective areas.
The matter had escalated to the apex court after the high court rejected the petitioner's urgent plea. Keeping this in mind, and after hearing BMC's statement, the apex court directed the high court to give the appropriate verdict, following which BMC was asked to file its submission by May 19, 2020. Responding to this, Assistant Medical Officer, Dr Deepak Chavan clarified the necessary details through an affidavit.
A separate area has been marked at the cemetery in Bandra, at the far end of the ground, away from nearby residential colonies. This is being used to bury COVID-19 bodies, Moreover, the residential society of petitioners is 600 feet away from the cemetery, and since these bodies do not spread the infection, residents do not have to worry about the risk. Officials from the BMC also said that it is wrong to attribute the spread of coronavirus in Mumbai to this.
The affidavit further read, "Disposal of dead bodies infected with COVID-19 is done in the safest and most hygienic way possible without causing any threat, danger to residents of the vicinity and all guidelines and precautions are followed."
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