Shaurya Sharma
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 08, 2020: High drama was witnessed near the Cremation ground of Guru Ki Nagri in Mandi Gobindgarh town as soon as the dead body of 53 year old Iron trader of Sham Nagar area of Mandi Gobindgarh, who died due to COVID was brought there by the health department team in an ambulance. Some residents of the area led by Tejinder Singh Rehal former Councilor cum senior BJP leader gathered in front of the Cremation ground and protested the cremation there. They were demanding that the cremation should be done at the main cremation ground of the town not in their area. SDM Amloh Anand Sagar Sharma and other officials intervened and try to persuade them not to oppose as the cremation as this cremation ground has been earmarked by the administration for cremation of COVID patients, as they did not relent heavy police force was deployed and they were chased by police and cremation was conducted as per SOP.
While talking to the media Tejinder Singh Rehal said that there is a main cremation ground in the town and the cremation of all the residents residing in that area is conducted there but the dead body of COVID victim has been brought here instead of the main cremation ground so they are objecting. He said that cremation of COVID victims here is highly objectionable as the people residing here are also human beings. Thousands of migrants live here and it is adjoining to the grain market.
SDM Anand Sagar Sharma said that this cremation ground has been earmarked as it is out of town, whereas the main cremation ground is in a densely populated area. He said that the entire SOP has been followed strictly and the son of the deceased lit the pyre by wearing PPE Kit.