In a shocking revelation, Sewa Samiti based in Haridwar has claimed to have cremated close to 600 unclaimed bodies recovered from the Ganga last year. All the year round, the organsation cremates bodies which come floating on the Ganga and immerse the ashes in the river after the post-death rituals are performed. Most of them are trapped at Pathri power house at Kankhal and some other barrages where irrigation department has installed water regulators. Though as per the official records provided by the local police, 98 such bodies were recovered from the Ganga canal last year the figure is much higher, say those who claim to have cremated such bodies.
The head of Sewa Samiti, Hariram Kumar said that they perform the last rites of the deceased. “Every year we cremate some 50 bodies. However, in 2017, the number of such bodies we cremated was close to 600,” he added.
If the staggering figure as claimed by the Sewa Samiti were true it sends a very disturbing message of a very high rate of drowning in the Ganga. However, things remain murky whether the deceased have committed suicide or have drowned accidentally or have been murdered with the bodies dumped in the river. SSP Haridwar Krishna Kumar V K said that there could hardly be any foul play behind such deaths. According to him, the most recent case of such bodies being fished out of the river happened on May 2 when five bodies were recovered from the upper Ganga canal near Pul Jatwada by the water police. Three of the deceased are supposed to have drowned over a month ago while the other two are believed to have drowned close to a fortnight ago, said police.
SSP further said, “Three of the bodies recovered were those of men while two of them were of women. The bodies came floating on the surface of the river as the water level in the area was brought down for cleaning the surrounding areas. We have hardly any evidence to say or hint that such deaths might be cases of foul play.”
Some bodies have remained untraced despite days having passed since they drowned in the river. As per police, a 24-year-old woman from Saharanpur drowned in Ganga on May 1 when she slipped while having a bath at Vishnu Ghat near Har-ki-Paidi. Her body has not yet been found. Another person drowned the same day near Pul Jatwada. The body is yet to be fished out, said police.
As per the police records, 98 unclaimed dead bodies recovered from Haridwar, Kankhal and nearby areas last year included those of women, elderly people, youths and children.
Police station Number of unclaimed bodies recovered in 2017
Haridwar (City) 23
Jwalapur 27
Kankhal 17
Shyampur 15
Bahadrabad 8
SIIDCUl 2
Ranipur 6
(Source : SSP Office)