Tales of horror

Priests and workers at Delhi crematoriums recall the dreadful period when the number of COVID-infected bodies kept swelling as the second wave raged. They wish never to witness such times again.

It was mayhem everywhere. Bodies wrapped in white were being brought in — in hands and on wheels. Siren of ambulances is all that was heard the entire day. The only sight day in and day out was that of burning pyres, recalled Hemant Kumar Sharma, priest of Seemapuri cremation ground. Mr. Kumar (29) — clad in a white kurta pyjama — sat in the courtyard of the cremation ground, his mask below his chin, in the company of another priest. There is one pyre burning on the premises with 26 platforms, and another body is due to come. There are hens roaming around…their clucking is now audible. “It’s relaxed now. There’s probably one COVID-19 body coming in once in 3-4 days. We have time to breathe, eat, sleep, drink water,” he said.