Check infection risk, states told over dumping of bodies in Ganga

NEW DELHI: Reacting to reports of bodies of suspected Covid-19 victims being dumped in the river Ganga, the Centre has sensitised its agencies towards missing actions on the ground and asked states to carry out urgent risk assessment of infections among people living along the river.
While Bihar government has now decided to bear the cost of cremation or burial of Covid victims in all districts along the Ganga or its tributaries, UP will provide Rs 5,000 each to families of victims in rural areas along the river. Both states have informed the Centre of their decisions in a review meeting on Saturday.
The states have been asked to stop the practice of burying dead bodies in the sand along the river. Hundreds of bodies have recently been fished out from the river in several districts in UP and Bihar.
A Bihar government representative told the ministry that even if the deceased did not have a Covid positive report but had symptoms, the family would be offered support for cremation or burial.