The family of COVID-19 patient, who succumbed to the virus on Tuesday, initially faced a refusal to conduct the final rites of the deceased. It is learnt that the authorities declined to cremate the body at the Taleigao crematorium, after which the family approached the neighbouring panchayat of St Cruz.
Sources said that after running from pillar to post to get permission for the final rites, the family on Wednesday evening was granted permission to conduct them at the St Inez crematorium, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).
The son of the 64-year-old deceased had also sought permission to light the funeral pyre. It is, however, not known if he has been granted a nod from the authorities concerned, nor if the family will be allowed at the crematorium site.
Herald had earlier contacted Taleigao Sarpanch Agnelo Da Cunha who said that all government SOPs will be followed by the concerned.
The body was at the ESI mortuary while the formalities for the final rites were underway in the capital and the neighbouring village.
