CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Bhopal: In Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, a family had to wait for nearly three hours to perform last rites because of the negligence of the watchman at a crematorium. The watchman had locked the main gate of the crematorium and gone to attend a wedding ceremony. During this time, the deceased woman’s relatives waited outside the crematorium with the body.
The case is from Lahar Gird under the Sipri Bazar police station area. Poonam, the 33-year-old wife of Santosh Ahirwar, who lived there, had fallen ill after childbirth. As her condition became serious, her family members were taking her to Gwalior, but she died on the way. The family then brought the body home and prepared for the last rites.
At around 7 pm, when the relatives reached the crematorium near the Pahuj River with the body, they found the main gate locked. The relatives said they had already informed the watchman that they were coming for the cremation. On asking people nearby, they came to know that the watchman had gone to attend a wedding ceremony. When he did not return for a long time, the relatives placed the body on the road and protested, leading to a traffic jam-like situation there.
After receiving information, Sipri Bazar police reached the spot and persuaded the relatives to clear the jam. Police called the watchman. After he arrived nearly three hours later, the crematorium gate was unlocked and Poonam’s last rites could be performed. The incident has raised questions over the upkeep of public facilities and the accountability of responsible employees.
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