Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): It seems the cemeteries are turning out to be ‘goldmines’ for gravediggers in Kashmir who are charging hefty amounts to dig graves and making fortunes out of deaths caused by the dreaded coronavirus.

At a time when the deadly pandemic is holding a tight grip on Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, these gravediggers are charging Rs 20,000 to dig a single grave in Srinagar district.

If relatives of a Covid-19 patient who died of the virus refuses to pay the amount, the gravediggers give a harsh reply—“dig graves yourself.” This leaves the family members who are already in shock of losing dear ones with no option but to pay the hefty amount to the gravediggers.

Sheikh Zubair, a resident of Srinagar said that the ongoing pandemic is turning out to be a goldmine for the gravediggers as they are charging exorbitant rates from the families whose relatives pass away due to the global pandemic.

“One of my relatives died due to Covid-19 a few days back. Soon after we reached the graveyard, the gravedigger had already completed all the formalities of digging and had prepared a grave for the deceased,” he said, adding that the time when the gravedigger was supposed by lay the body of deceased in the grave, he demanded Rs 20,000 while family members of the person who had died had only Rs 5000 in their pocket.

Zubair said that this led to a heated argument between them and the gravedigger. “Since we were left with no option, we finally paid him Rs 18,000 after a lot of negotiations,” he said. “All the relatives of the deceased were left red-faced after seeing the new trend—gravediggers charging hefty amount.”

Imtiyaz Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar said he faced a similar situation. “My question to the Srinagar administration is why there is no check on digging graves and why gravediggers aren’t made accountable for charging hefty amounts,” he said, adding that recently a poor woman died of Covid her son was in quarantine centre.

“There was no one to pay money to the gravediggers who demanded Rs 20,000. It were the policemen from the concerned police station who dug a grave for the deceased woman as the gravedigger refused to do the job without money,” he added.

Imtiyaz further said when people should extend a helping hand to those who lose their loved ones due to the pandemic, gravediggers are resorting to an open loot. “People are in a mourning state and gravediggers are deriving a sadistic pleasure by looting people in the name of digging graves,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that out of the 630 people who died due to the Covid-19 since March this year, Srinagar district has the highest mortality rate as it witnessed over 150 deaths.

Abdur Rashid Sheikh, a gravedigger from Srinagar, when asked why they charge such a huge amount said that it is not just about digging the grave but laying the Covid patient in the grave and filling the same grave.

“This is full of risk. There are many graveyards that are located on the hillocks where cranes and bulldozers can’t reach, so it’s we people who have dig the grave and later filling the same as well once the body of the person who dies of Covid is laid to rest,” he said, adding that “Rs 20,000 is a very small amount for taking such a big risk.”

Meanwhile, local residents of Srinagar here appealed to the authorities in the district administration to look into the issue and ensure that the people are not looted by the gravediggers from now onwards.

An official in the district office Srinagar said that people must lodge a written complaint against the gravediggers who charge huge amounts for digging graves of deceased Covid-19 patients. “If we get a written complaint, we will act on time,” the official said.

-ARK