CHENNAI: A pool of slush, garbage and stink is what welcomes anyone who gets close to the Chemmenchery cremation grounds, near the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board Housing Colony. During the rainy season, it truly becomes a watery grave, dark and dank, with no electricity and no concrete elevation to hold the dead body. The family of A Narayanan, a resident of this colony in Chemmenchery who died on the day of Deepavali, had an agonising time trying to give him a decent cremation. A Narayana had met with a road accident and was admitted to the GH for 13 days before he passed away.Mahalakshmi(36), daughter of Narayanan broke down as she narrated the day’s event. She said, “Since my father died of heavy injuries, the body started decomposing. So, we had arranged for the cremation on Deepavali evening itself at the Chemmenchery cremation ground. When our family members checked the Chemmenchery cremation grounds, the whole place was under knee deep water, with garbage overflowing from everywhere, and there was no electricity or a concrete elevation to keep the body from getting drenched.”MahaLakshmi added, “We managed to give him a decent cremation, thanks to the timely help from Shiva sir from the Ramakrishna Mutt. He helped us take the body in an ambulance to the Chittalapakkam electric crematorium. We are daily-wage workers. Thankfully, we found some help. What about the rest, who do not know people who can help them.” Chandrasekar (54), a resident of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board Housing Colony, Chemmenchery said, “There are 7,000 houses in this colony, and the cremation ground is used to dump garbage, and during rains, a foul smell emanates from the ground. I hope the councillor takes immediate action on this issue.” Narayanan, Councillor, Ward: 200, Chemmenchery, promised to look into the issue. “Very soon, we will clean the garbage, and provide electricity to the cremation ground. We also are trying to build a concrete elevation for the bodies to be kept.”
Comments
0 comment