Puri: Puri district administration Tuesday extended the prevailing restrictions on conducting funeral rites of deceased persons belonging to outside districts/states at Swargadwar here up to September 30 until further orders.
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Notably, the restriction was also applicable for immersion of ashes at the Mahodadhi as well in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An order issued by the office of the District Magistrate and Collector Puri Balwant Singh in this regard, however, says that persons within Puri district coming to perform the last funeral rites at Swargadwar Puri of deceased persons belonging to their family and immersion of ashes are hereby allowed to perform the rituals as before with strict observance of COVID-19 norms of the state government.
The order further says that all tehsildars-cum-Incident Commanders along with IICs of the respective police stations shall have to restrict movement of vehicles carrying corpses from other districts/states to Swargadwar Puri in their respective jurisdictions.
Executive Officer, Puri Municipality has been instructed to keep close surveillance in the matter, along with strict implementation of the order issued by the district administration, official sources said.
PNN