Authorities in Tripura have a tough time disposing bodies of COVID-19 victims

GUWAHATI: Authorities in Tripura has tough time arranging for cremation of COVID-19 patient who allegedly committed suicide.

A 50-year-old woman had allegedly committed suicide in a quarantine centre in the state capital Agartala.

Tripura’s Law Minister and government spokesman Ratan Lal Nath told ET, “Initially there was some problem however later she was cremated in Matinagar graveyard.”


The deceased woman belong to the same locality and her cremation took place around 3.15 am on Wednesday.

An official who do not want to be named said that earlier she was taken to Ramnagar graveyard, which is the largest graveyard of the city. “However there was resistance from some people of the locality, despite persuasion they did not yield.”

Recently in Meghalaya similar incident took place when there was resistance to burial of first Covid-19 patient in the state following which the Meghalaya Bar Association filed a public interest litigation in the high court. The victim was eventually buried in the cemetery of the Riathsamthiah Presbyterian Church in Shillong.

The High Court of Meghalaya has directed that there should be no obstruction to the burial or cremation of coronavirus patients in the state.

A division bench of Justice HS Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh said any person, local body or Dorbar Shnong (local chieftain) or organisation that hinders state authorities dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic or any related matter such as cremation and burial of victims shall be dealt with in accordance with the law and cases will be registered against them.