New Delhi, June 1 (IANS): The various District Magistrates in the national capital on Monday were asked to identify lands for cremation or burial grounds, which are reasonably away from the residential areas.

In a letter to all the District Magistrates of Delhi, Rajesh Goyal, Additional CEO, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) demanded a report on the same by 4 p.m. on June 3.

The letter asked the DMs to identify places, spaces for creating additional capacity for patient beds as well as additional land for cremation and burial grounds.

"As you are aware that in view of the increasing number of Covid-19 patients in Delhi, it is imperative to plan in advance for enhancing the capacity of patient beds and also to identify additional cremation and burial grounds," the letter reads.

It asked the DMs to identify and provide the information on top priority.

"Indoor air conditioned locations, preferably large multipurpose halls, banquet halls and indoor stadiums etc. for putting up extra beds for Covid-19 patients along with capacity of each such location," it said.

It also demanded the present locations of cremation and burial grounds as well as "additionally identified locations or lands for cremation and burial grounds which are reasonably away from the residential areas".

As of date, Delhi has reported 523 covid deaths since the outbreak of the infection. Also the cases count has crossed 20,000 mark, with 11,565 of them active cases.