Bodies have been seen floating down rivers in Uttar Pradesh and other states, apparently dumped by relatives amid the rising Covid deaths, shortage of cremation space and firewood, and spiralling funeral costs. Many families are burying their dead in the sand on riverbanks.
Residents of Unnao and Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh reported seeing at least three dozen and six bodies, respectively, floating in the Ganga in the past 24 hours.
Fatehpur sub-divisional magistrate Pramod Jha said: “Some corpses were spotted in the river. They were fished out and cremated.”
Jha said he was informed about the bodies floating in the river on Sunday morning, following which a search operation was launched. Six decomposed bodies were found in the river, he said. The bodies could not be identified.
Later in the day, a team of doctors performed the last rites at Bhitora Ganga Ghat, he said.
Dayashankar Pathak, SDM of Unnao, said: “I visited the area but didn’t see any bodies.”
Chief ministers Tirath Singh Rawat and Yogi Adityanath have been silent on the reports of floating bodies but claim the Covid situation has been “almost controlled” in their states.