A CEMETERY where bodies literally rose to the surface during flooding in 2017 will be the focus of talks designed to offset the impact of heavy downpours.
The GDN reported yesterday that attention was turning towards Bahrain’s rain contingency plans, as officials strive to avoid catastrophic flooding this winter.
In Manama this includes preparing rain drainage networks, ensuring the availability of water tankers and engaging in a public awareness initiative.
However, for an area in the Southern Governorate it means preventing the horror of seeing dead bodies being forced out of graves, as happened in February 2017.
Talks are scheduled between the Southern Municipal Council and the Sunni Waqf (Endowment) Directorate, which will discuss the possibility of building new water drainage channels and reinforcing graves at Hunainiya Cemetery.
Area councillor Abdullatif Mohammed told the GDN that precautions had been taken, but described them as temporary and called for a permanent solution.
“Whatever is being done at the moment is just a temporary solution and there are still concerns over the integrity of fresh burials, as the rainy season approaches,” said Mr Mohammed, who is also the council vice-chairman.
“The issue of the cemetery flooding or bodies being forced to the surface shouldn’t be an issue in the first place, but it is happening due to delays in proper action over the years.
“I understand that there are priorities for the Sunni Waqf, which must direct financial resources to maintenance of mosques and Quran learning centres, besides building new ones in newly inhabited areas.
“But the time has come for this monumental cemetery to be given real attention.
“No-one wants to see graves sinking under metres of rainwater, or bodies surfacing.
“Measures have to be worked on now – even if it takes two years to complete a new rainwater drainage system. At least work is done.”
As many as 100 bodies unearthed by flooding in February 2017 had to be reinterred by volunteers, but only after compromised graves were repaired.
In October last year the GDN reported that concrete slabs and sand were being used to prevent further desecration of graves.
The graveyard is located in a valley and therefore more susceptible to flooding.
Mr Mohammed said it was vital to ensure the sanctity of the cemetery and ensure no further heartache for relatives of the deceased.
“It is heartbreaking for families to see the bodies of their loved ones floating on the surface, instead of where they should be resting,” he said.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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