Priests at cremation grounds in UP seek protective gear

Lucknow, April 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Priests at various cremation grounds in Uttar Pradesh are now demanding protective equipment for themselves before they perform the last rites of corona victims.

Rajendra, who works at the Baikunth Dham cremation ground in Lucknow, said, "We are also frontline workers in the corona crisis. At a time when even families are shying away from cremation the bodies of corona victims, we are performing the last rituals. The government should provide us with masks, sanitizers and other protective gears. The cremation grounds should also be sanitized at regular intervals."

Priests, at Surajkund crematorium in Meerut, held a protest over the weekend even as they consigned the mortal remains of a corona victim to flames.

One of the priests said, "We have a family and children at home. How can the authorities and families expect us to carry out the last rites when they themselves stand at a distance from the body? We were told that the body will be brought to the crematorium by a health department team. However, there was only one driver in proper personal protective gear. Policemen stood outside the crematorium and there were only two family members, wearing gloves to lift the body."

In Rasoolabad cremation ground in Prayagraj, the local priests said that they were planning to send a letter to the district authorities, seeking proper protective gear for themselves.

"We are not stopping the cremations because that would be inhuman, but we will definitely demand our safety," said one of the priests.

Source: IANS