Number of cremations spikes in city

16 bodies cremated at Velangadu burial ground on Saturday; trend is similar in other crematoria

At the Greater Chennai Corporation Velangadu burial ground, which was in the news for the burial of neurosurgeon Simon Hercules who died of COVID-19 a year ago, the number of bodies being cremated every day has risen steadily over the month. Sources say the trend is similar in the other major cremation/burial grounds in the city. On Saturday, at least 16 bodies were cremated at the Velangadu crematorium, including those of four residents with COVID-19, by 8 p.m. Before the start of the second wave of the contagion in Chennai, the burial ground would register an average of seven cremations a day. On Saturday, residents could be seen waiting even after 8 p.m. to complete the cremation of their near and dear. Velangadu, which used to operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with two bio-gas cremation furnaces, is now operating from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.