‘Misery of Unclaimed Bodies’
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 11: Believe it or not, ashes of about 80 unclaimed bodies cremated some 6-7 months back at Jogi Gate-the oldest crematorium of Jammu and Kashmir, are awaiting immersion in some river as per the Hindu rituals.
“The unclaimed bodies are cremated under the supervision of Police and their ashes are stored as none remains available to immerse them well in time,” sources at Jogi Gate Cremation Ground informed adding: “On some auspicious day, these ashes are immersed in holy Devak at Purmandal in district Samba or in the mighty Chenab river at Akhnoor following proper rituals but these are not immersed in river Tawi.”
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They further said that if some non-government or social organisation approaches Sewa Samiti (organisation taking care of cremation grounds in Jammu), they are allowed after following proper procedure to take the ashes for immersion.
Sewa Samiti sources informed that on their own they have planned immersion of these ashes either in holy Devak at Purmandal or in river Chenab at Akhnoor in the coming October month this year during solar eclipse as that day is considered auspicious for immersion of ashes of the deceased persons in Hindu rituals.
On unclaimed bodies, a man who prepares pyres at the crematorium informed that they even receive stinking unclaimed bodies in decaying condition with parasites badly attached to them and they feel no hesitation to cremate even those also as it is their job to do so.
“During the time of COVID pandemic, we cremated many infected bodies where even the blood relations hesitated to touch their own deceased loved ones fearing deadly virus infection,” he further said.
“However, we face problem when some extremely poor relatives approach us for cremation of their dear ones and they even do not have sufficient money for buying the wood for cremation,” the man who prepares pyres at the crematorium maintained adding: “In such cases we approach prominent philanthropists in Jammu and so far they have never returned us empty handed.”
An insider at the Jogi Gate Cremation Ground informed that a normal cremation consumes about 4-5 quintal wood costing Rs. 2500-2750 while the cost of ghee and other things needed for rituals remains extra.
Insiders at Shastri Nagar Cremation Ground informed that ashes of a deceased person, possibly of some unclaimed body, are lying there for the last many months which will be taken to Purmandal for immersion in holy Devak with some more such ashes in future.
They also said that they too cremate unclaimed bodies in the presence of Police following proper procedure.
However, unclaimed bodies are rarely cremated at the Shakti Nagar Cremation Ground which is the third major crematorium in the city.
When contacted Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Rahul Yadav informed that JMC has no role in cremation grounds and the same are managed by an NGO Sewa Samiti.
“However, some elected Councillor or Mayor or anyone else even a common citizen may take the ashes for immersion at some proper place following proper rituals on humanitarian grounds,” he further said.
It is pertinent to mention here that last year the then JMC Mayor, Rajinder Sharma took ashes of some 100 persons for immersion in holy Devak at Purmandal.
Though such a gesture was not earlier shown by any of the previous Mayors or their Deputies in Jammu or any other elected public representative, Sharma received commendations from different sections of the society for the act of humanity.
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