Distorted media report creates crisis in COVID-19 patients cremation

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: At a time when cremation of COVID-19 patients is posing problems for both family members of the deceased and municipal authorities, biased and distorted reporting by a section of print and web media has created further crisis in future cremation of bodies in Tinsukia disitrict.

The controversy erupted after family members of the deceased Jhuntu Dey accused Tinsukia Municipality of asking Rs 15,000 for the cremation before a web portal reporter. According to reports, the deceased family was told by municipality officials that they would be provided with PPE kits and have to engage persons of their own. After the family members expressed their inability, the official advised them to engage private parties or NGOs willing to handle such patients who might charge Rs 15,000. The media allegedly deleted initial part and implicated municipality to sensitize the story. This also demoralised some persons who readied their services in the hour of crisis.

Though the SOP for dead body disposal of COVID positive patient did not mention about quarantining of staff handing the deceased at crematorium, the Health Department insisted that the staff should follow quarantine protocol. The EO Tinsukia Municipality Prashanta Gogoi told this correspondent that despite several persons were being trained including volunteers from Protirodhi Bondhu, most of them have shown unwillingness due to family's objection or rigid quarantine protocols. Tinsukia Municipality is now in a fix as how to cope up the situation in future without any fund, said Gogoi.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner Tinsukia has sought a detailed report from the EO Tinsukia Municipality. The Tinsukia District Congress Committee while condemning the alleged bribing also demanded a through inquiry into post-death episode of Jhuntu Dey.

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