COVID-19 outbreak: Swargadwar sanitised in Odisha’s Puri

Puri: In the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, Puri administration today sanitised the Swargadwar – cremation ground – as part of preventive measures to deal with the deadly virus.

A team of firefighters carried out the disinfection work in the morning for the containment of COVID-19.

According to information, more than 50 bodies are consigned to flames at the crematorium in Puri everyday. However, with enforcement of nationwide lockdown to tackle spread of new coronavirus, the number has dropped significantly in past 21 days.

As Swargadwar — Gateway to Heaven — has a close link with Jagannath culture, people from across the state used to visit here to perform last rites of their near and dear ones. There is a strong belief among Hindus that a person’s soul gets salvation if his/her body is consigned to flames at Swargadwar.

Meanwhile, the sanitisation work was also carried out at Maa Sarala Temple in Jagatsinghpur district, just a day after lifting of Section 144 imposed for Jhamu Jatra and Maha Bishuba Sankranti to avoid mass congregation.