The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered that not more than five people will be allowed to attend the funeral or cremation of patients who died after being infected with the coronavirus or COVID-19.
BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi issued a G.R. in this regard. This is being done to stop the spread of the coronavirus as it is not recommended to touch the dead body of a COVID-19 patient. The circular directed that the rituals of touching the body during the cremation should be avoided.
The circular also mentions that the dead body of a COVID-19 patient will be sealed in a plastic bag after due procedures and only then the dead body will be given for the funeral. Moreover, not more than 5 people will be allowed to attend the cremation.
In the circular, the BMC commissioner had earlier mentioned that all bodies of COVID-19 patients should be cremated irrespective of religion while not authorising burials. It also restricted the number of people which will be allowed to attend the funeral.
However, after Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik intervened, BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi revised the circular and stated that if there is the availability of a bug burial site then the same can be permitted.
Under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the local authorities are empowered to decide on the steps including disposal of bodies to curb the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19. The Epidemic Disease Act of 1897 has been invoked by the central government in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a 21-days nationwide lockdown from March 25 in view of the increasing cases of the coronavirus. As of March 31, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra has risen to 230 while in Mumbai the number has increased to 92. The death toll in Maharashtra has increased to 10 while in India the number of deaths has soared up to 32.
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