Kolkata: Madhyamgram Municipality is the first civic body in the state to construct a mortuary which can accommodate four bodies at a time.
The initiative taken by the Madhyamgram Municipality will be beneficial for the people coming from North 24-Parganas and other adjoining districts. The mortuary, named 'Peace Ocean', has set up four cabins.
It has been set up near Madhyamgram hospital at a cost of Rs 11-12 lakh.
The mortuary was inaugurated in the presence of MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Municipal Chairman Rathin Ghosh, who is also the local MLA and Nemai Ghosh, Chairman-in-Council (Health).
It was learnt that the existing morgue at Madhyamgram Hospital has been upgraded and a portion of it has been used for setting up the mortuary.
There had been a long standing demand for a mortuary in the district so that the bodies could be preserved for a few days. Even there is a demand for the same in
the city.
There are some mortuaries in the city that are run by private agencies. With growing numbers of youth travelling abroad and in many cases staying back in foreign lands, there is a genuine need to construct such mortuaries
in the state.
The Madhyamgram Municipality has set an example to other civic bodies in the state.
In many cases, people staying abroad need some time to return to the state to perform the last rituals of their parents and this facility would give them the time they need.
The civic body will charge family members Rs 1,000 per day for preserving the bodies of their dear ones. Rathin Ghosh, Chairman, Madhyamgram Municipality said the mortuary would cater to people from North 24-Parganas and other adjoining districts.