2,000 dead bodies found floating in Ganga River; panel asks UP, Bihar for report on dumping

Lucknow: The COVID-19 pandemic doesn't seem to end anytime soon.The second wave of COVID 19 has proven to be harmful and fatal. Most shocking things are happening in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. People living near the banks of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh have been witnessing the ghastly sight of dead bodies washing up on the ghats of the river.

Over 2,000 bodies were found in 1,140 kms on the bank of River Ganga which is spread across several districts in Uttar Pradesh, reported Hindi Daily Dainik Bhaskar.

Ganga flows across 1,140 kms in UP and then enters Bihar.

Ganga panel asks UP, Bihar for report on dumping of bodies

Incidents such as these have sparked fears about the scale of the Covid crisis in the country, especially in rural areas. Authorities believe the relatives of those who succumbed to the virus, may not have been able to find space for the last rites.

Days after it advised all District Ganga Committees to address the issue of bodies being dumped in the river, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Saturday asked Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to submit a "detailed report" in two days, it is learnt.

Sources said this was conveyed by NMCG to senior officials of both states during a meeting chaired by Jal Shakti Secretary Pankaj Kumar on Saturday.

Both states were asked to give a "detailed report" on the issue of dumping of bodies in the river as well as its tributaries, a source said.

Sources said that the impact of the floating bodies on the Ganga's water quality was also a topic that came up for discussion.

COVID in UP:

Meanwhile, in view of the current Covid situation in the country, the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday extended the lockdown for one more week till May 24. The government has also announed Rs 1,000 as financial assistance for registered roadside vendors. The Uttar Pradesh on Saturday reported 12,547 fresh cases with 281 fatalities. In, most popular city Lucknow, 617 new coronavirus cases were found.

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