Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand): In just a few weeks after visuals of a large number of bodies found floating in the river Ganga were reported sparking outrage, another grisly video has emerged showing stray dogs eating human bodies at Kedar Ghat on the banks of river Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi in Uttrakhand.
The smell apparently attracted street dogs, which pulled the bodies out of the water.
Residents said the parts of bodies, some of them which were half burnt had drifted onto the bank after a rise in the water level of the Bhagirathi due to rainfall over the past few days.
DISTURBING VISUALS of stray dogs digging & feeding on the dead bodies, on the banks of river Ganga, in Prayagraj.
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) May 18, 2021
Govt failed to protect their life, at least protect their dignity? This is what BJP & Godi Media doesn't want you to see and hence trying to deviate via smokescreens pic.twitter.com/Mc8VYb3sWE
A local resident who witnessed the stray dogs gnawing and feeding on the half-burnt bodies said that the District administration and Municipal Corporation should take cognizance of the matter and urged to take action immediately.
"It is a matter of concern and I feel that it is the death of humanity," said a local.
Another local discussed on the possibility that the bodies are of COVID-19 infected people who have been cremated and urged that civic body authorities should take immediate action so as to avoid the spread of infection.
According to sources, local residents have been constantly putting in complaints to the municipality and the district administration, but no arrangements were made to dispose of the bodies after conducting last rites.
Meanwhile, Municipality president Ramesh Semwal said that after receiving complaints from locals, they had assigned a person at Kedar Ghat to cremate the half-burnt bodies, washed up on the riverbank.
"During the last few days, the number of deaths has been increased in our area. I also came to know that bodies are not burnt properly so I have directed the administration to arrange at Kedar Ghat for the cremation of half-burnt bodies," said Ramesh Semwal.
Previously there have been incidents reported from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where a large number of bodies were found floating in the river Ganga.
Authorities believe the relatives of those who died due to the COVID-19 virus, may not have been able to find space or afford the last rites.
The Centre had last month directed authorities in these states to prevent the disposal of bodies in the river.
Meanwhile, Uttrakhand on Monday reported 1,156 fresh cases of Covid-19, taking the overall tally to 3,29,494. The state's Covid-19 toll reached 6,452.