Mysore/Mysuru: As COVID death rate graph is heading north, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has formed a special team to oversee cremations and last rites of the patients. This is to ensure that patient relatives are not put into trouble while cremating their loved ones and also to ensure that the dead get a dignified adieu. 

The team is headed by Chairman of Jungle Lodges and Resorts M. Appanna and comprises MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag, MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev, who is also the head of the Task Force formed for hospital bed allocation, Zoo Authority Chairman L.R. Mahadevaswamy who is the head of Ambulance Distribution Task Force. 

The Committee visited various crematoriums in city yesterday and visited burial grounds to supervise arrangements. They directed the people manning the crematoriums to be ready to cremate bodies to avoid last-minute rush and confusion. 

They visited Mukthidhama at Vijayanagar, Jodi Thenginamara burial ground at Bannimantap. Harishchandra Ghat at the foot of Chamundi Hill, Jayanagar crematorium, and also paid a visit to Muslim burial grounds near Tipu Circle and Ghousianagar. 

Appanna told reporters that their visit comes in the wake of chaos and confusion that has arisen in Bengaluru and they will ensure that such incidents do not occur in Mysuru. 

As per the guidelines, at the mortuary and cremation places, healthcare workers, mortuary staff and the family of the dead patient shall not come in direct contact with the dead body and must wear full personal protective equipment (PPE). 

If the family or relative are for any reason unable to cremate or bury the body, the local health authority shall arrange for the dignified last rites as per the religious traditions of the family. Under no circumstances, the body bag in which the dead body is wrapped must be opened. 

Last rites can also be conducted at private lands, village burial grounds and also family cremation sites. Teams from the administration would also be present during the last rites and they will ensure that the guidelines are followed. Only five relatives of the dead would be allowed near the cremation site, say the guidelines.