Patna municipal commissioner Himanshu Sharma has said the Covid victims would be cremated for free at the ghats managed by the civic body. Around 335 people have been cremated at Gulbi Ghat since April 1, including many who died of Covid.

At the same time, the civic body has fixed rates for the last rites of those who did not die of the contagion at three crematoriums here, under its jurisdiction, to help their families escape extortion given the huge rush at the burning ghats.

As per the order, the charge for the cremation of those who did not die of COVID-19 has been fixed at Rs 1,500 for electric cremation and Rs 4,900 for pyre cremation. ''The rates include end-to-end expenditure, right from the transportation of the body in an ambulance from the home and completion of all rituals at the burning ghat,'' Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Sharma said. He said the corporation has entered into an understanding with an NGO ''Bhamasah Foundation'' for the purpose.

The fixation of rates for cremation has come at a time when grieving families of the deceased are facing harrowing time while performing the last rites of their dear ones. Given the rush of bodies, including many COVID-19 victims, the affected families were facing painful experiences during cremation shelling out as high as Rs 15,000, much more than the fixed charge of Rs 300.

The second surge of coronavirus has wreaked havoc in Bihar, with Patna being the worst hit witnessing the maximum number of daily cases and casualties. As per the last medical bulletin, out of 12,604 new coronavirus cases cross Bihar Tuesday, Patna accounted for 1,837.

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