Sudden increase of river Teesta washes pyres

The Hindus of the Kalimpong and of other places perform the last rituals of their departed at the banks of the river Teesta at Labarbotey, along NH31A. But the sudden release of the water by the dams operating in Sikkim has couple of times washed away the pyres and the half-burnt bodies. The same episode occurred today when a pyre was washed away by the water just after the fire was lit. The body was recollected after a while when the water level decreased, and the last rites were performed.‘The incident happened when there was sudden rise in the water level’ said an eyewitness and added that before too the similar kind of incidents occurred but the administration did not act on it.

By Mukesh Sharma