Karnataka restricts number of people at funerals to five

Two open crematoriums start operations in Bengaluru, one more set to open soon

The State government has revised the guidelines to restrict the maximum number of people at funerals and cremation grounds from 20 to five. The guidelines were revised to avoid crowding at crematoria and burial grounds, observed in many cities, sources said. To ease the strain on existing infrastructure in the city, the government, on Sunday, started a new open crematorium at Tavarekere on the city’s outskirts. “The Revenue Department had earmarked four acres in the village for a burial ground, but the project was yet to take off. In four days we have created three platforms to burn bodies. We have also arranged for water and other facilities. Another such open crematorium at Giddenahalli will start functioning in the next few days,” said J. Manjunath, Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District, adding that arrangements had been made to use fallen trees for firewood. The open crematorium at T.R. Mills was opened for cremation of COVID-19 victims from Sunday. While there are no electric crematoriums at these locations, bodies will be burnt using firewood, sources said. Revenue Minister R. Ashok visited the crematoriums at Tavarekere and T.R. Mills.