A 74-year-old man in Nagpur who succumbed to COVID-19 was buried on citys municipal land after Jaripatka Christian Cemetery denied the permission for his burial. The cemetery said it would only allow burial of his ashes post cremation.

A civic official said that the cemetery was muddy hence there was problem digging the grave there.

The old man, who was undergoing treatment at citys government hospital since August 1 and lost his life on Sunday morning, was a member of the local Protestant church.

PTI reported, A member of the cemetery’s committee told them that the deceased’s ashes could be buried there, citing the COVID-19 outbreak and the facility being located close to some residential premises.

It further mentioned, We wanted a regular traditional burial without cremation (burning of body), for which we were not getting permission. They were reluctant for burial of a COVID-19 patient in the Jaripatka cemetery.

It was getting late and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) authorities were waiting for the family’s approval for the last rites of the deceased. NMC gave the family a burial place on their Mankapur crematorium premises. The deceased was buried there as per Christian tradition.

Ganesh Barve, President at Jaripatka Christian Cemetery told PTI, The cemetery is situated in a residential locality and there was lack of space there due the rains. There was also a problem of digging the grave due to rains. We referred to them instances, in which some COVID-19 patients were cremated at ghats and their ashes were buried in the cemetery as per Christian rituals. We also gave them an option for burial at Bhandewadi cemetery, which is located in a little remote area. However, we did not get a call back from them.