Thread by @JamwalNidhi

The Ganga ghat in Unnao, UP, has dead bodies buried right up till the edge of the river. In 'normal' times, 25 bodies used to come a day for cremation, but now jumped to over 300, claim local residents.

@GaonConnection's ground report by @sumitlive

en.gaonconnection.com/unnao-dead-bod…

As far as the eye can see are shrouds, in shades of red. They mark the makeshift graves of people recently buried. Almost every few yards are unmarked graves. Some partially dug up by dogs.

@GaonConnectionE's ground report from the Ganga ghat in Unnao

bit.ly/33HtOca

“Since the second wave of the mahamari , 300 to 400 dead bodies a day have been arriving at this ghat. Even today, there are nearly 150 bodies waiting for their last rites.”

@GaonConnection's ground report from the Ganga ghat in Unnao, UP

Read. Watch
bit.ly/3brr2f8

There is hardly any space and the dead are being buried right up till the edge of the river. And there is a fear that as water level rises, these bodies may end up in the river as has happened in other places.

@GaonConnectionE's ground report from Unnao
bit.ly/3brr2f8

“Cremating a body can cost up to 15,000 rupees. If you can’t afford that, burying is cheaper and can be done for about 600-700 rupees.”

As deaths increase, poor are burying their dead as they cannot afford to cremate.

@GaonConnectionE's ground report
bit.ly/3brr2f8

“Most of those who lie here are poor mazdoors (labourers), who died, and their families didn’t have money to cremate them."

Graves by the Ganga: @GaonConnectionE's ground report from Unnao in Uttar Pradesh

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bit.ly/3brr2f8

Baksar village in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, is known for the Chandrika Devi temple. The holy river Ganges flows through it, and a grotesque reality is unfolding on her banks…

Watch @GaonConnectionE's ground report from the Ganga ghat in Unnao.

People are bringing the dead from villages as far as in Kanpur Dehat district, nearly 100 kms away.

“Since we ran out of space, the ghats on the other side of the river are also being used to bury and burn the dead.”

Ground report from the Ganga ghat

bit.ly/3brr2f8

“Sometimes there are so many bodies to be buried that we are unable to dig deep enough. We have seen some of the graves, being dug up by dogs," a grave digger at Ganga ghat, Unnao, UP.

Read and watch this ground report on 'Graves by the Ganga'

bit.ly/3brr2f8

"After we got to know that people have buried the bodies in the sand, I sent a team to respectfully manage the bodies and directions have been issued that such a thing is not repeated," Ravindra Kumar, DM, Unnao, UP.

Ground report: bit.ly/3brr2f8
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It is 10:30 in the morning, and a line of dead bodies lie, awaiting their turn to be cremated. Or buried. That depends on how much money their near and dear ones have for their last rites.

Read, watch @GaonConnection's ground report from the Ganga ghat
bit.ly/3brr2f8

The Ganga ghat in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, has seen an unprecedented rush as dead bodies await their turn to be cremated, or buried. As the poor cannot afford Rs 15,000 for a cremation, they are choosing to bury their dead for Rs 700.

A ground report: bit.ly/3brr2f8