Secunderabad: Now, RWAs to allow Covid cremations in Cantonment area

SECUNDERABAD: Interaction of Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) officials with the resident welfare associations (RWAs) has resulted in hassle-free burial of the Covid-19 victims’ bodies in the Cantoment area. The RWAs have realised that the patients are already spending a lot in private hospitals for treatment and, therefore allow the cremation/burial of the dead on humanitarian grounds.
Initially, the RWAs had raised objections over the cremation of bodies at the crematoriums in the area.They also objected to the dead bodies being carried inside residential colonies. “We received complaints from the kin of the deceased about the hardships they face in giving the dead a decent burial,” said a senior SCB official. “Responding to the complaints, we interacted with the RWAs of the areas where crematoriums and burial places are located. We warned them against imposing restrictions against burials, mainly of those who died due to Covid-19. We asked them to ensure that the rituals are conducted smoothly. We also told them that criminal cases will be registered against the RWAs if they violate the Cantonment Board orders,” said the official. “Till date, 20 people have died due to Covid-19 in the Secunderabad Cantonment,” the SCB official said.
Hindu crematoriums are located in Bowenpally, Gun Rock, Trimulgherry and Marredpally, while Muslim burial grounds are in Bowenpally, Karkhana, and Marredpally.
Initially, we restricted the rituals as there were apprehensions that the virus can also spread from dead bodies. But after our interaction with SCB officials, we realised that it was inhumane to not allow final rites