Patna, May 17 : The Patna High Court on Monday found the affidavits of the Chief Secretary and of the Commissioner, Patna Division regarding dead bodies found flowing in River Ganges at Buxar as contradictory and directed them to file affidavit by May 20 clarifying all related issues.
While hearing a PIL, a division bench of the court led by the chief justice Sanjay Karole, the judges said that on the issue of dead bodies found flowing in River Ganges at Buxar, the Commissioner has elaborately dealt with
and explained that on 15th May, the District Magistrate of Buxar sent a detailed report, both on the recovery and disposal of the dead bodies.
The court said that according to the affidavit, in all 81 dead bodies were found flowing in River Ganges, 71 on May 10, 6 on May 11 and 4 on May 12. Postmortem of all the dead bodies was conducted and DNA profiling carried out. After following the due procedure, last rites of all the dead bodies were performed.
Some of the dead bodies were found to be in a mutilated condition. The dead bodies had “come from Uttar Pradesh due to the upstream of river Ganga.”
Further, all remedial measures were taken for avoiding pollution in the river Ganges and as such “Mahajal was put on the Border of UP and Bihar on May 10.”
Further, perusal of the affidavit of the Commissioner, Patna reveals a very disturbing fact as it says that within ten days, i.e. from May 5 till May 14, 789 persons were cremated only at one cremation ground, i.e. Muktidham Charitarban, Buxar.
The bench observed that the document contradicts the affidavit of the Chief Secretary, in which the number of deaths reported since 1st March, in District-Buxar is only 6 and said that it appears to be a contradiction.
The judges said that Buxar district has a huge population of nearly 17 lakhs. If in ten days only in one
crematorium, 789 persons were cremated, then what would be the position in the entire District and that too of persons belonging to all faith.
The court further said that also it is not clear from both the affidavits as to whether the persons cremated were
suffering from Covid-19. It would also be important to ascertain the age group of these persons. All such facts needs to be clarified.
The court directed to verify the facts of the affidavit from all sources , else it will amount to filing of false/
affidavit.
The court said that the official Website maintained by the State of Bihar for recording the births and the deaths has not yet been updated and directed to update it in all districts if the state.
The court also tok notice if the information of the Additional Solicitor General regarding the approval of the State’s request for enhancement of oxygen (LMO) by the centre. The Additional Solicitor General informed that the State is entitled to supply of 400 Metric Tonnes (MT) of oxygen (LMO).
The court directed the Principal Health Secretary, to file an affidavit verifying the facts within next two days. The court also sought information about sufficiency or lack of the infrastructure for transporting the entire allocated quota of oxygen (LMO). The Principal Health Secretary has been asked to apprise the court about the infrastructure for storage and transportation up to the point of end user.
The matter would be heard tomorrow on May 18.(UNI)