Animals digging into graves

A child’s body is dug out of his resting place by a dog that made its way into a graveyard in Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD: A child’s body was dug out of his resting place by a dog that made its way into a graveyard in Hyderabad. Residents of the area buried the child again, but are afraid that the desecration of graves will continue.

“There isn’t enough open space here, but the government keeps selling plots to make money,” a resident said. “Graves are only about two feet deep and animals can easily enter the area because of its low walls.” The historical Sattar Shah Qabristan in Hyderabad has been a public graveyard since 1947. Although it serves the densely populated neighbourhood of Liaquat Colony, it is paid little attention by the authorities.

Residents complain that they are forced to buy plots in the cramped space, but the lack of maintenance creates problems. The graveyard has no caretaker, and nobody visits it except for those who come to pay their respects. Often, they are faced with the gruesome sight of animals trying to pull out bodies from their shallow graves. Basic gardening is one way the facility could be improved immensely. “There are so many overgrown weeds that it attracts animals and makes it easy for them to hide,” said a resident.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2010.