Patna To Get 3 New Crematoria, Government Stops Charging For Incineration

The Bihar government has decided to stop charging for cremations and asked private parties to set up three new cremation grounds at the earliest.

Bihar capital Patna yesterday recorded over 120 cremations, an overwhelming majority of them COVID-19 victims. Such is the situation that even residents and small traders located near crematoria in the city are astounded by the unprecedented rush.   Given these difficult times, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government has decided to stop charging for cremations. It has also asked private parties to set up three new cremation grounds at the earliest. It's not only Covid victims who have to wait hours together outside crematoria for their turn. Outside the Bans Ghat electric crematorium, a shopkeeper says, "Earlier there used to be up to 50 people burnt, but bodies are now coming in round the clock."