'Caring for the dead': UP woman conducts cremation of unclaimed bodies
Lucknow (PTI): Versha Verma has cremated hundreds of unclaimed bodies to give a dignified farewell to the dead. Verma, 44, says she, after learning that many bodies lie in morgues unclaimed for days, felt that a person should get an honourable cremation.
"An unclaimed body is kept for 72 hours in a mortuary after post-mortem and then it is handed over to me for cremation," she said.
Verma said she cremates at least three bodies a week on an average. A number of bodies were cremated during the Covid pandemic, she added.
Verma, who has been in social work for the past five years, runs an organisation "EK Koshish Aisi Bhi" to help those in need. All this is done free of charge, she said, adding she occasionally appeals for financial support on social media.
Not only cremation, our organisation also arranges for free ambulance service and free treatment for the poor, Verma said.
"In the case of destitute patients, we take them to the hospital and ensure their treatment," she said, adding her free ambulance service is available all over the state.
"We are there to care for those who need help," she said.
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Road crash in UP leaves 10 dead
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said.
The van was going to Sisaiya from Lakhimpur when the accident took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages.
Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van and the driver were killed.
District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that the van collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leading to nine casualties on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries at the district hospital.
Circle Officer, Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh told PTI, "Efforts are on to establish the identity of other deceased persons."
The seven of the deceased have been identified as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.
Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said, "The loss of life in the unfortunate road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families."
"I have directed the local administration to provide prompt and adequate assistance to the injured and the victims. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His divine feet and to bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured," Adityanath said on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak too condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
"The loss of lives resulting from the road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," Maurya said.
