‘Asthis, heaps of ashes lying in Smashanbhumis of city

Aurangabad, May 20:

‘Asthis’ of 80 patients who died from COVID were lying at different Smashanbhumis of the city as the relatives of deceased have not come to collect and do their immersion. Heaps of ashes can also be seen. In some crematorium, it is being buried.

It may be noted that Aurangabad Municipal Corporation has appointed a team to perform last rites on the patients who died of the pandemic so that relatives of the deceased should not get infected from it.

Relatives are allowed to lit the pyre by wearing a PPE kit. It was seen last year that the relatives do not come for the last rites nor collect ‘asthis’ and ashes. The situation has changed this year. Relatives are collecting ‘asthis, but not carry ashes, fearing that they may get contracted from the virus. Some leave ashes in Smashanbhumi, thinking that it may pollute the river.

During observation at Smashanbhumi, it was found that a big heap of ashes was found lying at a corner of Mukundwadi Smashanbhumi. Masanjogi Sahebrao Pawar said that the ashes of many deceased persons turned into a big heap as their relatives have not collected them since last year.

“This heap of ash of 100 bodies. The relatives of five deceased have not collected ‘Asthi’ even after one month is over. We have kept them in a locker,” he said.

A heap of ashes was seen at N-11 Hudco Smashanbhumi. Its Masanjogi Gaikwad said that there is ashes heap of 150 bodies lying for the past one year. The relatives of 30 deceased have not collected ‘Ashtis’ yet.

Sahebrao Gaikwad from Kailasnagar Smashanbhumi said that considering last year’s experience, they tell relatives of the deceased to carry ‘asthis and ash.’

“Despite this, we have ashes heap of more than 100 bodies. As the relatives have not come for a long time, we have buried it in the ground. Relatives have not come to collect ‘asthis’ of five persons,” he added.

Masanjogi from Pratapnagar Smashanbhum Bharat Gaikwad said that the mindset of people is changing as they are coming to collect ‘asthis’ of their deceased.

Govind Gaikwad, the Masanjogi of Pushpanagri Smashanbhumi, said that local people are coming to collect ‘asthis’ but not outsiders.

“The ‘asthis’ of five to six persons were kept in the locker. We create awareness that ashes should not be thrown in a river as it may pollute river water. So, relatives collect ‘asthis’ but leave ashes here. This has turned into a heap.