Body lying in front of a shop creates panic

Dharwad: Fear of Covid-19 has gripped people of Dharwad so much that nobody including the relatives were ready to touch the body of a 50-year-old man lying in front of a shop near the KCC Bank.
The body with blood stains around the nose was found by passersby on Friday morning. They alerted police who rushed to the spot. The deceased was identified as Rafeeq Benni, a resident of Basti Oni in Hosayallappur. It is said that he might have consumed alcohol and fallen in front of the shop after the shop closed at 9.30pm on Thursday.
Police informed family members who arrived at the spot. However, since the man was from the containment zone, there was apprehension among people including the relatives of the deceased, about touching the body and lifting it. An ambulance was summoned but the ambulance staff reportedly said they had no safety kits with them and hence the body could not be lifted. Then the HDMC was alerted. However, the zonal officer also reportedly declined to get civic workers lift and shift the body as they were not equipped and trained to handle the suspected Covid patients.
Finally, after being convince, the relatives of the deceased arranged to take the body and conduct the final rites.