The increased COVID-19 casualties in the second wave in the State have not only exposed the infrastructure in the crematoria and graveyards but also the coffin-makers to meet the growing demand.
Carlon Fernandes of Goan Rites, Miramar said the last few days demand for coffins has slightly increased perhaps due to the COVID-19 deaths.
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“On Friday we had five bookings mostly from families of those who succumbed to COVID-19 infection,” he said.
Goan Rites started in 1988 provides an array of services to meet the needs of bereaved families by providing all services required during the funeral.
According to Carlton, they make as many as eight types of coffins using commercial plywood and in three different sizes. “We usually sell 2 to 3 coffins per day and approximately 25 coffins per month. But during the last few days the demand for coffins seems to be growing due to COVID-19 deaths,” he said.
“Though we have been charging for our various services, we only collect coffin prices from the families of COVID victims and provide them free transportation for the last rites,” he added.
Carlton said there was also a shortage of manpower especially carpenters to make coffins. “It takes a minimum of a day and a half to make one coffin and I have now only five workers after three workers left for their native places,” he said.
Similar is the case at the Hindu crematorium at St Inez, Panaji. According to Prakash B Harijan, who works at the crematorium everyday one or two COVID-19 bodies are cremated except last week when nine bodies were cremated. These bodies are cremated in the evening hours.
“We do not touch the COVID-19 bodies covered with body bag and the close family members who bring the body also wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) and perform traditional rituals before the body is consigned to flames. The PPE kits used by the family members are also burnt” said Harijan.
According to Harijan, they have sufficient wood and every week they receive two truck-load of wood from Dodamarg, Maharashtra.
Muslims community who always faced space constraint for burial in Panaji have now ample space following the inauguration of a integrated burial and cremation facility in February this year.
“The bodies are cremated or buried only after obtaining a death certificate and after issuing a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP),” according to a CCP official.
Manuel Sequiera, owner of C S Sequiera Coffin Makers, Margao said that there is an average sale of coffins and no extra demand.
“I used to sell 5 to 7 coffins in a month and even now the average is the same. We have no extra demand in COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of the coffins starts from Rs 6500 and ends at Rs 15,000,” he informed.
While the owner of the Rebello’s Coffin Maker of Margao refused to give details about his sale of coffins, he informed that was no extra demand due to the deaths by COVID-19. He refused to comment further.
However Bhai Naik, President Mathgramastha Hindu Sabha’s admitted over the last few days demand for wood had increased as more bodies were being brought to the crematorium for final rites.
The Mathgramastha Hindu Sabha, Margao manages the Hindu crematorium at Pajifond, Margao.
“Minimum five bodies are brought at the crematorium but due to lack of facilities, we are able to manage with only three or four. Yes, the shortage of wood has become the problem for the last many days but on the other side few people are coming forward and donating the wood, otherwise, it is very difficult to arrange the wood,” he stated.
Coffin maker from Vasco agrees that the workload of coffin makers and demand of coffins have increased in recent times. Yet the COVID-19 deaths and increasing and the situation is scary.
Tom Dias, of S Dias Coffins and Funeral Services from Vasco, informed that it is sad that COVID-19 cases have increased in the State. Many people succumb to COVID-19 infection. In such testing time people come to us for funeral services.
“Some of the people who operate undertaker van in the port town informed me that many people are dying due to COVID-19 infection,” said Dias.
When asked whether his work of making coffins has increased during the last few days, Dias replied in the affirmative. He said that relatives of people of who were Catholic come to buy coffins and for funeral services. Last week, three coffins were sold wherein one person from Vasco, another from Baina and one more from Bogmalo died.
Further when asked how much was the cost of one coffin, Dias informed that one coffin costs around Rs 7000. He also said that his workload had multiplied several fold due to the several deaths occurring in the State due to COVID-129 pandemic.
