Yesterday, massive outrage erupted in Puducherry, one of India’s eight union territories, after a video surfaced on social media, purportedly, showing a group of government workers throwing the body of a COVID-19 patient into a pit hurriedly, while flouting Covid-19 protocols.
The video shows four men in hazmat suits that are not fully zipped up, moving a lifeless body from an ambulance. The dead person was wrapped merely with a white cloth, and not in a bag as mandated in such cases.
As they dumped the body into the grave, the cloth wrapped around the body opened up, exposing the workers to the risk of infection. It is not clear yet if the body was duly embalmed.
After dropping the body in the grave, one of the men was heard telling a government official that they have "thrown the body" for which the official shows a thumbs up sign, gesturing approval.
The reaction on social media, prompted the administration to order a probe into the incident.
Reportedly, the body was of a Chennai resident who had tested positive during his visit, according to ndtv.com.
Facebook user R. Chitra wrote: "What kind of unethical disaster management is this?"
And tweep, @Sivaram13792534 posted: “Horrible…”
Reacting to the incident, India Against Corruption, an anti-corruption movement the country, said in a statement, "Dignified disposal of dead body is a matter of right. Such an insult to a dead person is an offence under section 500 of Indian Penal Code. The health workers along with those supervisory staff are punishable with penalty for defamation of deceased person.”
According to the health department, the body was handed over to Revenue officials for burial. Puducherry Collector T. Arun said, "I have issued a memo to the concerned department. It's very unfortunate. I am enquiring into the issue. Have properly briefed them.”
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, who was tagged by tweeps as they shared the video and reports, said that show cause notices are being served to those involved in the incident.
