Despite the awareness and assertions made by the doctors and experts that the COVID-19 viral disease won't spread from the corpse, the recent incident of denying the dignified burial for the COVID-19 victim in Tamil Nadu has exemplified the prevalence of stigma and fear around handling and burying the body of the deceased who died of COVID-19 viral infection. 

On Wednesday, the residents of Meledaiyalam village near Gingee, Villupuram had restricted the burial of a 52-year-old man who died of the viral infection in the village and though the health workers tried to convince the residents, it had eventually failed following which the body of the deceased was taken by from the place where his family wished to bury and buried in the nearby village. 

According to the reports, a 52-year-old man was taken to a private hospital on July 24 after he developed breathing difficulty. He then underwent COVID-19 testing which turned out to be positive the following day and he was receiving treatment in the hospital. Amid the treatment, his health got deteriorated on the morning hours of Tuesday and later he was declared dead. 

Following his demise, his family members decided to bury him in the native village of Meledaiyalam as per the last wish. As per the COVID-19 protocol, the revenue officials had reached the burial site and dug a pit to bury the body. However, the local residents had learned the last rites of the COVID-19 victim and they began restricting the burial by holding protests. 

The reports stated that the residents had gathered at the entrance of the village and barricaded the entry of the ambulance which was carrying the body of the deceased man. They dug the holes to stop the entry and they went on to park the tractors as the blockade for the ambulance. The health workers held talks with the villagers for about eight hours. However, the talks had failed following which they have taken the body and buried in the graveyard in Periyakaanjakulam village near Meledaiyalam. 

Tamil Nadu had earlier witnessed such incidents of the undignified burials. Earlier, Chennai doctor Simon Hercules, who succumbed to the viral infection, had also faced such undignified burial. The doctors and experts have asserted multiple times that the virus won't spread from the dead body. However, the repeated incidents had shocked the state on witnessing the undignified burials of the COVID-19 victims.