Bengaluru, Apr 21: Karnataka government on Wednesday permitted cremation or burial of the bodies of COVID-19 victims in the land or farmhouse owned by the bereaved family or relatives by strictly adhering to the guidelines.

There have been requests to that effect from the family of the dead and it is prudent to swiftly and respectfully dispose of the body in a manner keeping in view of the grieving circumstance, and to avoid crowding in the crematoriums or burial grounds, an order from Principal Secretary (Revenue) N Manjunatha Prasad said.

There have been increasing number of complaints about lack of space or long queues at burial grounds and crematoria.

Families have been asked to strictly adhere to all other COVID-19 protocols, including sanitisation, ensuring that those placing the bodies in the grave or on the funeral pyre wear PPE kits, gloves and other protective gear.

In case of inter-state or inter-district transportation of bodies of COVID-19 confirmed or of suspected virus case, the hospital or medical officer should issue the death certificate in a prescribed format along with a test report as available.

As per the guidelines, bathing and hugging the deceased should be avoided, the order said.

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Bengaluru, Jan 27 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday that all cases registered against pro-Kannada activists will be withdrawn.

The CM was addressing a gathering at the unveiling of the 25-feet-tall bronze statue of Bhuvaneshwari, the goddess who represents the Karnataka state identity, on the premises of the Vidhana Soudha.

The statue of Bhuvaneshwari, which was sculpted at an approximate cost of Rs 21.24 crore is 41-feet-tall including the pedestal, and weighs around 31.5 tonne.

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While speaking at the event, although he acknowledged that one must love and embrace all languages, the CM said, in Karnataka, Kannadigas should follow the culture of speaking and interacting with “their brothers and other speakers” in Kannada.

“Instead of speaking incorrectly in other languages, we should speak our own language. In all our neighbouring states, the language spoken by the people of the respective state is sovereign. This should be practiced here, too,” said Siddaramaiah.

Insisting that everyone in the state should develop respect for the Kannada language, culture and art, the CM called for more learning and teaching of reading and writing Kannada.

“Only then will Kannada become the sovereign language,” he added.

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