Cremations begin at Beggars’ Rehabilitation Centre, sans answers

The death toll from the Beggars’ Rehabilitation Centre tragedy may be mounting, but the cause of the deaths still remains unclear. Even so, the bodies of the dead remain unclaimed and are being sent to the cremation centre.

Dr Hari Murthy, the official physician for the Colony, told DNA.Sunday: “There is no requirement for a post-mortem as the deaths have been declared due to natural causes. I believe the deaths happened due to an electrolyte imbalance in the patients. Other than the ones sent for a post-mortem to Victoria Hospital, the remaining bodies have been sent to the cremation centre in Sumanhalli near the Colony.”

The head warden of the colony, Hanumantharayappa, said: “We have all the necessary documents that declare these deaths as being due to natural causes. The bodies were sent to the burning centre after verifying the details of the deceased. We found that all of them did not have any family. Therefore, the bodies were sent to the burning centre.”

Dr Shantha Kumar, a doctor at the Isolation Hospital, said: “The stool test reports have been received from the laboratory. The reports are negative for cholera. I don't wish to comment on reports anymore.”