Free CNG cremation for Covid 19 casualties at Sector 94 in Noida

NOIDA: Following three Covid-19 deaths in GB Nagar, the Noida Lok Manch - an NGO that manages the Antim Niwas cremation ground at Sector 94 - has decided to provide free CNG cremation facility for people who have died with Covid-19. A CNG cremation at the Sector 94 facility costs Rs 2,300.
While the decision is taken in favour of the needy whose kin had suffered a Covid death, those willing to pay are not barred.
“As the number of Covid 19 death count rose to three in Noida, NLM has decided to provide free CNG cremation facility for the Covid -19 casualties. This decision was taken mainly keeping in view of the aggrieved family suffering the blow following a medical condition which is untreatable right now. Also, many people are poor or without resources in times of such sudden deaths and not in a position to pay. We felt they should not be saddled with the burden of payment at a time of such profound grief,” said Mahesh Saxena general secretary NLM.
Saxena adds that for the time being the CNG cremation charges of Rs 2,300 which includes Rs 2000 for the CNG unit and Rs 300 for the pandit (priest) will be borne by NLM. “In case the number of casualties rises very high, we will take a call later and take help from Noida Authority and district administration,” said Saxena.
According to Saxena, while NLM has been providing free cremation for unclaimed bodies at the sector 94 facility since last 20 years, they also provide free packaging material for bodies requiring post-mortem – conducted near the sector 94 cremation facility.
Even as district magistrate Suhas LY and Noida authority official Vijay Rawal visited the cremation ground on May 12 following the death of a Covid 19 patient from sector 19 whose family and friends were unable to attend the funeral, Noida Authority and district forest department have helped NLM in procuring all logistics for the cremation which including the CNG furnaces, wood in case of normal funeral and sanitation from health department every day.
Normal wood funerals are also carried out on the premises which cost about Rs 3,000. This includes Rs 2,200 cost for wood, Rs 300 for the pandit and Rs 500 maintenance charge.