Ludhiana: Kin of Covid victims forced to shell out more for performing last rites

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 20

After incurring huge expenses on the treatment of Covid patients in hospitals, family members of those who succumbed to the virus are forced to shell out huge sums for a decent cremation.

Aggrieved family members are spending between Rs5,000 and 10,000 to cremate bodies of their loved ones.

Deepak, a resident of Mundian Kalan, who lost his mother to Covid on May 12, spent a total of Rs10,000 to perform her last rites.

“The ambulance was free and Rs10,000 was given to the crematorium. We were given a slip of Rs4,500 and we were told that the remaining amount was for PPE kits that were used for the cremation,” he said. They cremated the body at the crematorium using the LPG.

“It’s difficult for families with marginal income to pay such a huge amount,” he said.

Kamaljit Singh, a resident of Arjan Nagar, succumbed to the virus at Arora Neuro Centre and his family bore charges of Rs3,000 for performing the last rites and Rs2,400 was charged for the PPE kits. The body was cremated at a traditional crematorium where wood is used for cremation.

“I was the only one from the family who went for the cremation but I was charged for three PPE kits. The volunteers who helped me in cremating the body also wore the PPE kits and I was charged for that also,” said Inderpreet Singh, son of Kamaljit.

Jaspal Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar, said he lost his father, Mulakh Raj, to Covid and cremated him at one of the gas-operated crematoriums in the city.

“Ambulance service was free of cost and at the crematorium we were asked to pay Rs9,500. We paid Rs6,500 and an amount of Rs3,000 was waived off on request, which we were being charged for PPE kits,” he said.

Ranjodh Singh, president of the Ramgarhia Educational Council, which manages the gas crematorium at Dholewal, said families are charged Rs4,500 for one funeral which include charges for cylinder, sanitisation and if they need PPE kits, they are charged extra for that.

“After cases of overcharging were reported to me, I have fixed the charges. Now, Rs2,500 is charged for four PPE kits and sanitisation, if families do not bring their own kits,” said Ranjodh Singh.

The crematorium at Dholewal has four gas chambers and one more will be made operational by Tuesday. One commercial cylinder costs Rs 1,500 and two-three cylinders are used for performing the last rites of the body.

“The new gas chamber is made using advanced technology and will reduce gas consumption to 25 kg and cremation time to one hour. The cost of the same will be fixed at around Rs3,000-3,500,” he said.

Anil Bharti, president of the Swami Vivekanand Swarg Asharam Trust, said they have fixed the price at Rs4,500 and if anybody was being charged more they should report to them.

“I request everybody should take the slip from the Trust so that there is no chance of overcharging,” he said.

Gurmeet Singh Kular, member, Swarag Ashram Shivpuri, Dana Mandi Back Side Arora Palace, said they had fixed the rate at Rs3,000 for one cremation and they don’t keep PPE kits at the cremation ground and people bring them on their own.

“The team that comes with the body according to the protocol charges Rs2,400 from the family for kits and sanitisation,” he said.

Judgepreet Singh, member, Samvedna Trust, an NGO, who is also a member of the cremation cell formed by the district administration, said the ambulance service was provided for free and in addition to this, five PPE kits were given to the marshals for their own selves and the family members of the deceased from the Civil Surgeon office.