India COVID Horror: Over 500 Bodies Found Buried On Banks Of River Ganga

As a deadly surge of COVID-19 tests the capacity of crematoriums in India, hundreds of decomposed bodies have been found buried on the banks of the River Ganga. It was not immediately clear if those bodies were of infected patients, but local residents said people have been abandoning their dead by the holy river ever since higher demand for funeral services pushed up charges.

The disturbing discovery was made Friday in the Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh, triggering panic among local residents. Rain and wind exposed the saffron-cloth coverings of bodies buried in shallow graves on the riverbank.

"For the last 2-3 months, people have been burying their dead here. Sand covering the bodies is blown away by strong winds, exposing the decomposing bodies. Predatory birds and dogs gather and feast on the remains. The government should make arrangements for proper burials," Hindustan Times quoted resident Dina Yadav.

Though the Uttar Pradesh government had directed the National Disaster Relief Force and water battalions of the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) to ensure that bodies are not buried in the sand along the banks of the river, the practice continues unabated.

India, buckling under a horrific surge in COVID-19 cases, is witnessing long queues in front of crematoriums. Though it is yet to be confirmed if the bodies were of COVID victims, local people complained that ever since the outbreak, there was a steep increase in the number of bodies buried along the river which is considered sacred by many Hindus.

Navneet Sehgal, a state government spokesman, told Associated Press Sunday that local media reports that more than 1,000 corpses of COVID-19 victims had been recovered from rivers in the past two weeks were untrue. “I bet these bodies have nothing to do with COVID-19,” he said.

He said some villagers did not cremate their dead as is customary, due to a Hindu tradition during some periods of religious significance, and instead disposed of them in rivers or by digging graves on riverbanks.

However, Ramesh Kumar Singh, a member of Bondhu Mahal Samiti, a philanthropic organization that helps cremate bodies, told AP that poor people have been disposing of bodies in the river because of the exorbitant cost of performing the last rites and a shortage of wood. The cost of cremation has tripled up to Rs 15,000 ($210), he said.

Meanwhile, the local people say the practice has compromised the sanctity of the holy river and devotees have stopped taking holy baths due to the stench.

"At least 400-500 bodies have been buried here. This is a sacred place where people used to come to take holy baths. People no longer like to come here. The government should ensure that this matter is taken care of," said a resident.

This isn't the first time that bodies of suspected COVID patients are being recovered from the river banks and water. Last week, a dozen corpses were found buried in sand at two locations on the riverbank in the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh. Authorities also recovered over 70 bodies that were found floating in Uttar Pradesh and nearby state of Bihar.

On Sunday, India logged 311,000 fresh cases and 4,077 deaths. So far, 270,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the country.