To ease rush in Hindon, 1 more crematorium starts ops in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad: As the cremation ground Hindon continues to be overwhelmed with bodies of Covid victims, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation has starts operations at another crematorium. in Noor Nagar near Raj Nagar Extension.
Ghaziabad is witnessing an increase in the number of Covid deaths. In April, when there was a sudden upsurge in Covid cases, Ghaziabad recorded 106 deaths. It has been just three days into May, but the district has already seen 45 persons succumb to the virus.
This has also put a massive load on the Hindon crematorium where a huge number of Covid and non-Covid bodies land up every day.
The corporation on Monday started Noor Nagar crematorium for Covid victims, while at least four crematoriums have already been operationalised in the district, in addition to the existing ones.
“We had only one crematorium dedicated for Covid deaths. As Covid deaths are on the rise, there was a lot of pressure on it. People had to wait for hours to cremate bodies. Therefore, we have operationalised one more crematorium near Noor Nagar for Covid victims,” said Pramod Kumar, additional municipal commissioner, GMC. “It was started on Monday. Till afternoon, around eight bodies were cremated,” added Kumar.
The GMC has also ramped up services at other the crematoriums in the city.
“We had the Hindon and Indirapuram crematoriums before. But we have ramped up services at Karhera, Razapur, Guldhar and Duhai crematoriums as well. These are for non-Covid bodies. We hope to ease the rush at the main crematorium,” added Kumar.
Family members of a 21-year-old Yashika, who succumbed to Covid at AIIMS in Delhi on April 24, has to wait in line to create her body. The girl’s brother, Deepak, said that he had to stay with her body in the car for an entire night. Their chance came in the afternoon the following day.
Deepak said, “The average waiting time was more than five hours. As the bodies were lined up across the pavement of Hindon cremation ground, my turn came after hours. With the Noor Nagar crematorium starting operations, at least the waiting time will decrease because the number of deaths will not.”
“The Ghaziabad administration has woken up late to the crisis. Nevertheless, this move will provide relief to people who are visiting the crematoriums with bodies of their loved ones,” added Deepak.