DW BUREAU As catastrophic wave of Covid-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly and families of those succumbing to virus are either refusing or unable to perform last rites, Municipal Corporation Ludhiana (MCL) is ensuring dignified last rites of dead through its Covid Cremation Management Cell, operating day and night. Speaking in a press conference organized at MC zone D office in Sarabha Nagar, here, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal, MC Councillor Mamta Ashu, and MC joint Commissioner Swati Tiwana said that it was really sad when someone died due to pandemic but it was more heart-breaking when their families did not come forward to pay last respects and tributes. They said that Covid had exposed the dark side of society with some families in Ludhiana disowned their dear ones who died of Covid-19. They said in one case, a family of Covid-19 victims, requested MCL for a video call during the funeral. They said that the cremation cell was working from arranging ambulances, fixing cremation time, firewood or LPG to getting the paperwork done and lighting the pyre. They said MCL had hired 10 youngsters on DC's rate and all of them were performing their duties adhering to Covid protocols. They added that cremation/burial while wearing PPE kits was a really tough job especially when the temperatures are soaring high but MCL's team was doing this job considering service to humanity. They said that MCL would not step back and would make best efforts while cremating the body in a respectful manner according to rituals/protocols. Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal and MC Councillor Mamta Ashu exhorted those families disowning their deceased family members, to shun their fears/myths about contracting the infection while cremation/burial and give the respect to their loves ones for one last time. (editor@dailyworld.in)