Mumbai, Mar 30 (IANS): Not willing to risk infections even after death, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai on Monday decided to compulsorily cremate all victims of COVID-19 irrespective of their religion.

In a significant order, MCGM Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi decreed that the dead bodies of all Covid-19 victims must be cremated at the nearest crematorium irrespective of the religion to which they belong.

He justified the move saying a religious community leader had brought to his notice that burial grounds for Muslim or Christians are located in densely populated localities of Mumbai, posing a high risk of contamination to their surrounding community or residential areas.

Pardeshi also said that any rituals involving the touching of the body are barred and not more than five persons shall be permitted to attend any such funeral.

The MCGM has further banned the procedure of packaging the victim's body in a plastic bag and burying it in a cemetery on the grounds that it would prevent early decomposition and the risk of the future spread of coronavirus would continue.

However, the MCGM said that for those who insist on holding the burial practice would be allowed provided they take the body out of Mumbai limits for the funeral rituals.

For this, they would have to make all arrangements including transportation and follow the relevant guidelines/precautions for the disposal of Covid-19 victims, he said.

The person concerned would be fully responsible for his actions and those found flouting the directives would be liable for penal action, said the MCGM chief.