Stray Dogs Feed on Human Corpses at Riverbank in Uttarakhand

Locals said that parts of bodies, some half burnt, had drifted onto the river bank after a rise in the water level.

Representational photo.

(Photo: PTI)

A shocking video has emerged, showing stray dogs eating human corpses, which are suspected to be bodies of COVID-19 victims dumped on a riverbank at Kedar Ghat, in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi.

Locals told news agency ANI that parts of bodies, some half burnt, had drifted onto the river bank after a rise in the water level.

"I was doing some painting here yesterday (31 May), and saw these half-burnt bodies and stray dogs gnawing and feeding on them. The District Administration and Municipal Corporation should take cognisance of this and do something immediately. It is a matter of concern and I feel that it is death of humanity," a local told ANI.

Localities also claim that the bodies supposedly got stuck in the sand and were later drifted towards the banks amid heavy rainfall in the past few days, which raised the water level.

The local residents claimed that the civic body took no action despite several complaints.

Meanwhile, municipality president Ramesh Semwal informed that as soon as he received complaints from locals, he had assigned a person at Kedar Ghat to cremate the half-burnt bodies on the riverbank.

“During the last few days, the number of deaths has increased in our area. I also came to know that bodies are not burnt properly, so I have directed the administration to arrange for the cremation of half-burnt bodies at Kedar Ghat,” said Ramesh Semwal.

Earlier, in May, the Centre directed authorities to prevent the disposal of bodies in the river.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand on Monday, 31 June, reported 1,156 fresh cases of COVID-19, taking the overall tally to 3,29,494.

(With inputs from ANI)