Bury bodies only in crematorium, says Collector

Speaking to Dt Next, Collector Maheshwari said, “We have cleaned the graveyard and sanitized the premises. In future, health officials and police have been instructed to bury unclaimed dead bodies at the crematorium in Tiruvallur. In case, the facility is not available, the bodies should only be buried in crematoriums that are fully surrounded by compound walls and remain secure throughout the day.”

The collector had earlier held meetings with officials from the district revenue, health and police departments to ascertain more details about the body parts found outside the graveyard in Basheer Nagar. “Following the meeting, the decision has been taken. The process will be streamlined soon,” collector said. Meanwhile, residents of Basheer Nagar claimed that while the revenue officials had cleared body parts from the graveyard and surrounding areas, the district authorities should also restrict dumping of garbage on the banks of the Cooum River in Kadambathur area which are the main source for dogs and pigs scavenging the neighbourhood. Until recently, unclaimed bodies accident victims in Government Hospitals between Ponneri and Minjur were buried at the graveyard in Basheer Nagar in a shoddy manner which was dug out by wild animals posing serious hazards for residents of theneighbourhood.