Video on dumping of COVID-19 victims' bodies in Karnataka triggers outrage

Bengaluru, Jun 30 (PTI) A video purportedly showing health
workers burying inappropriately some bodies of COVID-19
victims in a large pit allegedly in Ballari district in
Karnataka has surfaced, triggering an outrage on social media.
A top official in the district, the native of state Health
Minister B Sriramulu, said they were inquiring into it.
In the video, the workers wearing personal protection
equipment are seen bringing bodies in black sheets from a
vehicle parked nearby and dropping one after another into the
large pit, dug up with the help of an earthmover.
A man who posted the video first on YouTube claimed it
happened in Ballari.
It went viral on social media drawing widespread
condemnation over the manner in which the dead were handled
and people demanded stringent action.
"In all, eight bodies were dumped in this fashion in a
single pit," an eye-witness claimed.
Ballari Deputy Commissioner of S S Nakul said he too has
noticed the viral video in the social media.
"We have ordered an inquiry," he told reporters in
Ballari on Tuesday.
The district reported 12 COVID-19 deaths on Monday.
Nakul said five more people succumbed to the coronavirus
on Tuesday, taking the total fatalities in the district to 29
so far.
In a similar incident, the body of a 44-year old COVID-19
victim was thrown into a pit in Puducherry earlier this month,
triggering public outrage and a few health workers were
suspended. PTI GMS
VS VS

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)