Corpn. rejects request for reburial of doctor

‘Health experts have advised against it’

26/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Chennai Corporation has rejected the request for reburial of the mortal remains of Dr. Simon Hercules, who was interred at Velangadu, following protests by residents against burial of the body in their neighbourhood.

In a press release on Saturday, the Corporation said that a committee of public health experts had advised it not to permit reburial of the body to minimise risk to public health.

According to the release, Dr. Simon Hercules (55) was admitted to Apollo Hospitals on April 4 with fever and his test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on April 7. He was offered the best medical treatment. However, he died on April 19 at 6 p.m. After the death was reported to the family, they requested officials to make arrangements to bury the body in a private cemetery in Kilpauk.

Corporation officials reportedly contacted the private cemetery authorities to permit them to bury the body at night. After the authorities of the Kilpauk cemetery said they could not permit burial at night, the civic officials decided to bury the body in the Chennai Corporation Christian Cemetery in the same area and requested the police for protection. When the civic officials started making arrangements to bury the body, more than 400 residents opposed the move. The police and civic officials then decided to bury the body at Velangadu.