In a worst kind of treatment meted out to the dead and his family members, two ladies were left to fend for themselves as they had to lift the body and perform cremation of COVID19 victim even as the district administration representative played a mute spectator.
At St Inez crematorium, a body of COVID19 victim, who died in Goa Medical College was brought by a ambulance.
As followed in the past, there were no body handlers and the driver of the ambulance and the helper did help to certain extent but only “dumping the body down” from the ambulance and leaving.
There were two municipal workers, just in masks and limited themselves to just lighting the pyre.
The district administration official played a mute spectator just issuing orders even as the two ladies, in PPEs, lifted the body and placed on pyre and performed rituals themselves even as they cried for their dear one who passed away.
The ladies clearly could not handle the weight of the body and despite this none came to help.
Corporation of City of Panaji Mayor Uday Madkaikar, when contacted, said he was unaware of COVID victim’s body being brought to St Inez crematorium.
“Neither the family nor the district administration informed us,” he said.
He stated that this was the second cremation and the first one was done systematically.
Speaking further, Madkaikar said that the authorities were supposed to trained our personnel in wearing of PPEs and handling.
“Till date they have not done and in absence of such training, we cannot force our workers. We have to also see if they are mentally prepared for this,” he said.
Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar, who ahs managed to create awareness on respecting victim in south Goa, says he had no knowledge of the Panjim cremation.
“Maybe the patient died in Goa Medical College and hence I cannot comment. Here in South Goa the Collector has put in a robust system in place wherein they are able to handle five to six bodies a day,” he said.
He said the people who handle body need to be trained in wearing of PPEs.
Calls to North Goa Collector R Menaka went unanswered.
Goa has so far seen about 93 deaths and barring first three there was no controversy as many deaths were in South Goa.
People say South Goa Collector Ajit Roy has done a wonderful job on cremations and made a special team for the purpose.
