Villagers seek resting place for the dead  

KORAPUT: Inhabitants of Kakriguma, the largest village in the district, have urged Collector K Sudarshan Chakraborty for the establishment of a crematorium in the area.In the absence of a proper place to cremate bodies, villagers of Kakriguma face a lot of difficulties, especially during the rainy season, to perform the last rites of their near and dear ones. Kakriguma has a population of around 5,000.

Villagers have to cross a small river to identify a suitable place to cremate bodies. The problems are compounded when the rains arrive as the area is flooded during the monsoon, said Jitendra Bisoi, a villager. “During the rainy season, we fail to identify a proper spot to cremate bodies as the entire area is submerged in flood water. Villagers are compelled to skip the rituals during cremation because of unavailability of a suitable place,” he said.

There have been instances in the past where bodies were washed away by flood water during cremation. In order to cremate the bodies quickly, villagers use kerosene and a huge quantity of salt on the funeral pyre, said a villager.Recently, the body of one Roudra Bisoi of Kakriguma was brought to the village by a Mahaprayan vehicle from Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital, Koraput. However, the villagers faced a tough time to identify a suitable spot for cremation. As one has to cross the rivulet to perform the final rites, many did not attend Roudra’s funeral, Jitendra informed. 

Several missives to the elected representatives of the region has failed to yield any result. Jitendra said Koraput MP Jhina Hikaka is aware of the difficulties of villagers, but is yet to take any steps to address the problems of the people.In the hope of getting a permanent solution, the villagers have requested the district Collector to take immediate steps to construct a crematorium in Kakriguma.