Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (MS)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Aug 2: The district administration in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi is showing little lenience with respect to holding funeral rites of people who die of coronavirus in the districts.

Now the family members of the deceased person can hold the final rites in their own family property. However, family members are not allowed to touch the body of the deceased. Only burial or cremation in their own land is allowed. The family members have to make ambulance arrangement on their own.

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Madan Mohan, assistant commissioner of Mangaluru said, "Some family members have the emotional feeling that the final rites of their deceased family member should be held on their own land. We will allow such people to hold the final rites. But we will not allow the body of the deceased person to be taken to outstation districts."

"In the district of Udupi also, final rites of the deceased person can be held on the own land of the family if they wish. But the locals should not oppose the same. The final rites will be however held as per Covid protocol," said Sudhirchandra Sooda, district health officer.

The high court of Karnataka also gave complimentary statement in this regard. Earlier, when few deaths were occurring, the government itself was holding the funeral. However, now the cases have increased and holding of final rites of deceased by the family members will reduce the pressure on the government system.