The last rites of 36 other coronavirus victims will take place on Wednesday (File)
New Delhi:
The final rites of some of the coronavirus patients in Delhi have been conducted by hospitals under the direction of Interior Minister Amit Shah, and with the consent of their families, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.
Mr. Shah’s directive comes amid reports that a large number of bodies have been kept in hospital morgues for many reasons, including the unavailability of confirmed laboratory reports.
The final rites of 36 other coronavirus victims will take place on Wednesday, their families not being present in Delhi, the ministry said.
“Following the instructions of the Minister of the Interior @ AmitShah, all the hospitals in #Delhi (central / state / private) performed the last rites of # COVID19 deceased with the consent / the presence of their families / relatives”, a tweeted a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry.
After the Union’s Minister of the Interior @AmitShahdirections, all hospitals #Delhi (Central / state / private) performed the last rites of # COVID-19[FEMALE[FEMININE died with the consent / presence of their families / relatives.@HMOIndia@PIB_India@airnewsalerts@DDNewslive
#IndiaFightsCorona– Spokesperson, Ministry of the Interior (@PIBHomeAffairs) June 16, 2020
There will be no delays in the future, said the spokesperson.
However, the total number of victims whose last rites were performed on Tuesday was not immediately known.
The last rites were performed at the cremation and burial sites under the supervision of hospitals.
Amit Shah had ordered Sunday that the bodies of the alleged victims of COVID-19 in Delhi be treated with caution and in accordance with the directives of the Union Ministry of Health and handed over to their relatives immediately without waiting for confirmation from the laboratory.
He also underlined the determination of the country to fight with vigor and force against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amit Shah also said on Sunday that the central government has decided to issue new guidelines for the final rites of coronavirus victims, which will reduce wait times.
Interior Minister stepped in to manage coronavirus situation in the nation’s capital after criticizing the Delhi government’s COVID-19 response with complaints of hospital beds being unavailable and patients having difficulty getting beds perform tests in laboratories.
On Sunday, he held two high-level meetings with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, mayors and commissioners of the three Delhi municipal corporations to strengthen the pandemic strategy.
The Interior Minister announced on Sunday that the COVID-19 test would be doubled in Delhi in two days, then increased three times.
On Monday, Amit Shah paid a surprise visit to the city’s LNJP hospital to take stock of the facilities there and then ordered the Chief Secretary of Delhi to install video surveillance cameras in COVID-19 services. each hospital designated in the national capital for appropriate surveillance, and to define alternative canteens for an uninterrupted supply of food for patients.
