Thanks to Mali, the asthi (remains of a cremated person) of one body were exchanged with that of another. The story did not end here, members of a Patel family even immersed the asthi of a Sindhi person as they were told was told to be that of a Patel by the watchman. Lokshahi Morcha councillor Chandrakant Shrivastav, who raised the issue in the general board on Wednesday, said that when the Patels came to collect the asthi they were given that of a Sindhi person.

The watchman apparently had put into the dustbin the asthi of the Patel, thinking that relatives would not come for collection. When the relatives turned up, the visibly upset watchman showed him somebody else's asthi. Later when the Sindhis came to know about it they got wild and almost ended up fighting with the Patels, Shrivastav said. Sources said the Sindhis got the asthi of the Patel. The two groups which came to the corporation office were pacified by Medical Officer Health Dr Shireesh Patel and Deputy Mayor Ajit Patel.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Administration) H S Patel said that people should also inform the days the persons on duty at the crematoria about when they would come to collect the remains. He, however, said that more care would be taken to ensure that such instances are not repeated. ``After all it is a question of sentiments,'' he stated.