NGT asks UP and Bihar govts to inform number of human corpses found in river

Bodies Floating in Ganga: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken seriously the matter of bodies floating in the Ganges river in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during the second wave of the Corona epidemic. The NGT has sought information from both the state governments on the number of human bodies found floating in the Ganges and buried on the banks of the river since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic till March 31 this year.

A bench of Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmed asked the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Health) of UP and Bihar to submit a factual verification report on the subject.

The bench asked how many human bodies were seen floating in the Ganges river in UP and Bihar in the years 2018 and 2019 before the onset of Kovid-19 and in 2020, 2021 after the onset of the Kovid-19 pandemic and till March 31 this year. He was buried on the bank of the river.

Also, in how many cases did the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar provide financial assistance for cremation or burial of dead bodies? What steps have been taken to create public awareness and increase public participation to stop the flow of dead bodies in river Ganga or burial of dead bodies on the banks of the river?

The tribunal sought to know whether any criminal case was registered and whether any prosecution was initiated against any person for violation of guidelines for handling of dead bodies.

The NGT also asked whether there has been any violation of environmental regulations and if so, the details of the precautionary measures taken may be furnished.

The NGT was hearing a plea by journalist Sanjay Sharma who sought a direction to follow proper protocol for disposal of human dead bodies affected by coronavirus.