SHILLONG: The management of the Shillong Electric Crematorium at Jhalupara on Friday announced that the crematorium will be opened for the all users from Saturday, with priority to be accorded to cremation of those who die of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision to open the crematorium was taken following a meeting called at the behest of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and convened by East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner M War on Friday. This was followed by another meeting convened by the Urban Affairs Minister at the Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by the East Khasi Hills district police chief, the SP (city), the headmen and secretaries of Mawbah Dorbar Shnong and Jhalupara Village Council and the president and secretary of the Greater Shillong Crematorium & and Mortuary Society (GSC&MS).
A joint statement issued by the president and general secretary of GSC&MS, said that that officials and staff of the Health department and the Shillong Municipal Board will handle cremation of COVID-19- infected bodies and will also ensure proper sanitisation of the crematorium premises including the furnaces.
The staff employed at the crematorium will be imparted training on how to operate the furnaces if the body of a coronavirus patient is brought for cremation. Adequate PPE will be provided to the crematorium staff.
In cases of normal cremation, a maximum of 20 people will be allowed with the body and every person entering the crematorium will have to wear face mask and maintain social distancing of minimum one metre inside and outside the crematorium premises.
The crematorium will function daily from 9 am to 8 pm, the statement added.
