Indian states asked to stop people from dumping bodies of COVID-19 victims into Ganga - Global Times

India's federal government has asked states to check the practice of dumping bodies of COVID-19 victims into the river Ganga, as the country struggles in a devastating second wave of infections.

India's federal minister of Jal Shakti (water resources), Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, said his ministry has taken serious note of the practice and given instructions for its prohibition.

"We have taken serious note of the issue of dumping dead bodies in River Ganga and instituted measures for the prohibition," Shekhawat said, adding that the government will take steps to "ensure all unidentified bodies are disposed as per the protocol."

Over the past few days in the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states at least 96 corpses were found floating in the river Ganga, officials said Wednesday.