No bodies floating in Ganga at Rae Bareli, says administration

But locals allege bodies were buried in sand

There were no bodies, reportedly of suspected COVID-19 victims, floating in the Ganga in Rae Bareli district in Uttar Pradesh, the administration said on Friday. But locals alleged bodies were being improperly buried in the sand on the river’s ghats. After a spot visit by Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Lalganj and the local police, Ram Abhilash, Additional District Magistrate (administration), said the reports of bodies floating in the Ganga at Gegaso ghat were “misleading and false”. However, locals claimed that bodies were being hurriedly and improperly buried in shallow pits in the sands of the ghats since at least a month. Nakul Dubey, a local villager, said people came and dumped bodies in the sand or cremated them in the night.