Surging toll forces MCC to scramble for firewood

Corporation officials appeal to donors, voluntary organisations to donate firewood

Mysore/Mysuru: Grim prospects of a rise in the number of COVID deaths in Mysuru has sent civic authorities scrambling for resources for conducting funerals in a dignified manner and also minimising inconvenience to the families. On an average, 10 persons are losing their battle with the killer virus daily and the daunting task is to make firewood readily available for cremations. 

In city, nine places have been earmarked to cremate the dead bodies as per traditions and wishes of the family members. Cremations are also held in village limits when the family members demand that they will take the body to their home towns. Here too, strict protocol is followed. 

Earlier, the Mukthidhama — electric crematorium — at Vijayanagar Fourth Stage was reserved to cremate the dead and now as the death graph is showing an upward trend, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and the District Administration are compelled to hunt for more crematoriums and also firewood. 

Now, COVID cremations are being held at Jayanagar electric crematorium, Harishchandra Ghat at the foot of Chamundi Hill and at the burial ground at Jodi Thenginamara Road, Bannimantap. While there is a provision of cremating eight bodies in one go at Jodi Thenginamara Road burial ground, two more structures that can burn four bodies have been constructed. 

Though the civic body has adequate arrangements for firewood, there is a possibility of a shortage. “As the COVID death count has increased significantly in the last three weeks, the firewood requirement has also gone up exponentially. So, we are appealing to donors to ensure a steady supply of firewood. We don’t want last-minute hassles. Crematoriums should not stop because of faults. This is to minimise sufferings of the bereaved families,” said MCC officials. 

Over 400 kg of wood is required to cremate a body and at present, there are 10 truckloads of firewood. “The fatality situation is turning from bad to worse. There have been instances when relatives have refused to touch the body of COVID victims and we have to make all arrangements. We are appealing to donors to donate firewood and also voluntary organisations can pool in money to purchase firewood from suppliers,” an officer said. 

Preparations before death

Usually in Hindu tradition, a bamboo bier (called chatta in Kannada) is made only after a person dies and it is not made before death. Following increased death rate, the MCC had asked Guruprasad, a resident of Medarakeri near Nanjumalige to make bamboo biers in advance. And he had prepared several biers to carry the bodies to crematoriums. 

At that time deaths in Mysuru were handful and the MCC was criticised for preparing bamboo biers in advance and the MCC is going against the traditions. Now since the death rate has increased and every day on an average, 10 people are dying and this has forced the MCC to stock-up firewood before any death occurs. So, the traditions have to be given a go-by in critical times.