NASHIK: One man has been working tirelessly at the Amardham crematorium for Hindus, even as the number of Covid-19 deaths increase in
Nashik city. Mehboob Shaikh, 45, is the manager of the Nashik Municipal Corporation-run crematorium for a decade.
The flow of bodies at Amardham, located on the banks of river Godavari, has swelled over the past few days. Shaikh, who has been posted at Amardham for nearly a decade, has been working tirelessly to help the bereaved families to complete the final rites.
“I do not have any hesitation in working at a crematorium meant for Hindus. I feel that it’s a pious job to help the dead in their final journey,” said Shaikh.
He has to maintain the cleanliness of the crematorium premises, ensure all basic amenities are in place and the proper functioning of the two electric and one gas crematoriums.
This apart, he has to see that there is enough wood for the 14 traditional pyres. He also completes the paperwork before bodies are allowed to be cremated.
“There are many cases when bereaved families leave the bodies at the crematorium without performing the last rites as they are fearful of getting Covid-19 infection. We then perform the last rites,” Shaikh told TOI.
Although there are six crematoriums spread across the city, the rush at Amardham is always greater. This crematorium handles over 15-20 bodies a day. “The pain of the families losing their beloved are much more than our workload. You can clearly see when they arrive at Amardham with the bodies with moist eyes,” said Shaikh.
Sunil Sirsath, sanitary inspector of East Nashik division of
NMC, lauded Shaikh for his. “I feel that he has set an example for all of us. Despite hailing from a different community, he is working at the Hindu crematorium. He has been working well to manage that crematorium,” added Sirsath.