A cremation of a COVID-19 victim's body in a cardboard coffin is seen with no pollution at a cemetery, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka August 19, 2021. Picture taken August 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Workers carry a COVID-19 victim's body in a cardboard coffin for cremation at a cemetery, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka August 19, 2021. Picture taken August 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Workers carry a COVID-19 victim's body in a cardboard coffin for cremation at a cemetery, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka August 19, 2021. Picture taken August 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Workers disinfect a COVID-19 victim's body in a cardboard coffin before cremation, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at a cemetery on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka August 19, 2021. Picture taken August 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Ashes of cremated stray animals are seen at the garden of a crematory in Hong Kong, China August 13, 2021. Picture taken August 13, 2021. REUTERS/Lam Yik

A staff member places the remains of a stray kitten for cremation in Hong Kong, China August 13, 2021. Picture taken August 13, 2021. REUTERS/Lam Yik

Kent Luk, founder of Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, and James Chai, director of Rainbow Bridge Pet Cremation Services, bid farewell to the remains of stray animals during a cremation in Hong Kong, China August 13, 2021. Picture taken August 13, 2021. REUTERS/Lam Yik

A staff member of Rainbow Bridge Cremation Services scatters ashes of cremated stray animals at the garden of the crematory in Hong Kong, China August 13, 2021. Picture taken August 13, 2021. REUTERS/Lam Yik

Undertakers from Hock Thai Funeral prepare a coffin of a victim who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a temporary morgue in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Undertakers from Hock Thai Funeral prepare to cremate the body of a person who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium in Klang, Malaysia August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Undertakers from Hock Thai Funeral prepare to cremate the body of a person who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium in Klang, Malaysia August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Undertakers from Hock Thai Funeral wrap a coffin of a victim who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a temporary morgue in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Undertakers from Hock Thai Funeral prepare to cremate the body of a person who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium in Klang, Malaysia August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Undertakers from Hock Thai Funeral prepare to cremate the body of a person who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium in Klang, Malaysia August 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Crematorium employees wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) prepare firewoods before cremation of the bodies of victims who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

A family member of a deceased coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim records a video during the cremation in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Crematorium employees wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) carry a coffin before cremation of the victims who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

A family member of a deceased coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim records a video during the cremation in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

A crematorium employee wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) collects ash after cremation of the bodies of victims who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

A crematorium employee prepares firewoods before cremation of the bodies of victims who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

A family member of a deceased coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim records a video during the cremation in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

A family member, seen on a phone screen during a video call, cries during the cremation of the body of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim at a temple in Pathumthani Province, near Bangkok, Thailand July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

A family member cries as Thai Buddhist monk Pongpetch Santijittho is seen wearing a protective suit over his robe to cremate the body of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim at a temple in Pathumthani Province, near Bangkok, Thailand July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Thai Buddhist monk Pongpetch Santijittho wears a protective suit over his robe as he cremates the body of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim at a temple in Pathumthani Province, near Bangkok, Thailand July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Volunteers wear protective suits as they prepare to cremate the body of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim at a temple in Pathumthani Province, near Bangkok, Thailand July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Thai Buddhist monk Pongpetch Santijittho wears a protective suit over his robe as he cremates the body of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim at a temple in Pathumthani Province, near Bangkok, Thailand July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Thai Buddhist monk Pongpetch Santijittho wears a protective suit over his robe as he prepares to cremate the body of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim at a temple in Pathumthani Province, near Bangkok, Thailand July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Thai Buddhist monk Pongpetch Santijittho puts on a protective suit over his robe as he prepares to cremate the body of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim at a temple in Pathumthani Province, near Bangkok, Thailand July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

A municipal worker cremates bodies that washed up on the Ganges riverbank after monsoon rains swelled the river, exposing shallow sand graves dug during the peak of the latest COVID-19 wave in Phaphamau, on the outskirts of Prayagraj, India, June 25, 2021. REUTERS/Ritesh Shukla

A municipal worker cremates bodies that washed up on the Ganges riverbank after monsoon rains swelled the river and exposed bodies buried in shallow sand graves during the peak of the latest wave of COVID-19 in Phaphamau on the outskirts of Prayagraj, India, June 25, 2021. REUTERS/Ritesh Shukla

A municipal worker cremates bodies that washed up on the Ganges riverbank after monsoon rains swelled the river and exposed bodies buried in shallow sand graves during the peak of the latest wave of COVID-19 in Phaphamau on the outskirts of Prayagraj, India, June 25, 2021. REUTERS/Ritesh Shukla

U.S. President Joe Biden watches as an American Flag is placed on the table next to the urn with the cremated remains during the funeral ceremony of former Senator John Warner at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, U.S. June 23, 2021. Oliver Contreras/Pool via REUTERS

U.S. President Joe Biden looks on as the urn with cremated remains is set down during the funeral ceremony of former Senator John Warner at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, U.S. June 23, 2021. Oliver Contreras/Pool via REUTERS

A child from the parish walks in front of the coffin of Germanie Pierre before burial in Gonaives, Haiti, June 12, 2021. Despite the country's poverty, funerals are often extravagant social events in Haiti, complete with a festive wake and fanfare bands. Haiti's death rites are viewed as important to guarantee a safe passage to the afterworld ? with cremations and organ donations rare because the deceased are deemed still to need their bodies - but also a way to mark one's social standing. REUTERS/Valerie Baeriswyl SEARCH "HAITI FUNERALS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

Weder Pierre (2-nd L), little brother of the deceased Germanie Pierre, drives a motorcycle in the procession of family and friends heading to the cemetery for a final goodbye to the deceased, in Gonaives, Haiti, June 12, 2021. Despite the country's poverty, funerals are often extravagant social events in Haiti, complete with a festive wake and fanfare bands. Haiti's death rites are viewed as important to guarantee a safe passage to the afterworld – with cremations and organ donations rare because the deceased are deemed still to need their bodies - but also a way to mark one's social standing. REUTERS/Valerie Baeriswyl SEARCH "HAITI FUNERALS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

A procession of family and friends make their way to the cemetery accompanied by a marching brass band, for a final goodbye to the deceased, Germanie Pierre, in Gonaives, Haiti, June 12, 2021. Despite the country's poverty, funerals are often extravagant social events in Haiti, complete with a festive wake and fanfare bands. Haiti's death rites are viewed as important to guarantee a safe passage to the afterworld ? with cremations and organ donations rare because the deceased are deemed still to need their bodies - but also a way to mark one's social standing. REUTERS/Valerie Baeriswyl SEARCH "HAITI FUNERALS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

The coffin of Germanie Pierre arrives in front of the vault in which he will be buried in Gonaives, Haiti, June 12, 2021. Despite the country's poverty, funerals are often extravagant social events in Haiti, complete with a festive wake and fanfare bands. Haiti's death rites are viewed as important to guarantee a safe passage to the afterworld ? with cremations and organ donations rare because the deceased are deemed still to need their bodies - but also a way to mark one's social standing. REUTERS/Valerie Baeriswyl SEARCH "HAITI FUNERALS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Anderson Laroche, 17, makes an emotional farewell speech to his deceased mother, Germanie Pierre in front of his family in Gonaives, Haiti, June 12, 2021. Despite the country's poverty, funerals are often extravagant social events in Haiti, complete with a festive wake and fanfare bands. Haiti's death rites are viewed as important to guarantee a safe passage to the afterworld – with cremations and organ donations rare because the deceased are deemed still to need their bodies - but also a way to mark one's social standing. REUTERS/Valerie Baeriswyl SEARCH "HAITI FUNERALS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A man cremates his relative Hatayben Bharwad, 58, who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium in Ahmedabad, India, June 10, 2021. REUTERS/Amit Dave

Health workers carry the body of a person, who died from complications related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), for cremation at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, June 10, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Health workers carry the body of a person, who died from complications related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), for cremation at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, June 10, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Health workers wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as they prepare to carry the body of a person, who died from complications related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), for cremation at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, June 10, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

A crematorium employee empties a container with cremated bones and ashes from the body of a person who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Parque Cementerio Zipaquira, in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

Smoke rises from the chimney of the Parque Cementerio Zipaquira crematorium where people who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are cremated, in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

A crematorium employee collects the ashes from the body of a person who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), after the cremation at Parque Cementerio Zipaquira, in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

A crematorium employee touches a wooden box to store the ashes of a person who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), after the cremation at Parque Cementerio Zipaquira, in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

A crematorium employee works at a cremation oven in the Parque Cementerio Zipaquira crematorium amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

Crematorium employees work at a cremation oven in the Parque Cementerio Zipaquira crematorium amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

A crematorium employee works at a cremation oven in the Parque Cementerio Zipaquira crematorium amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

Crematorium employees look at the cremation chamber where a person's body who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is cremated at Parque Cementerio Zipaquira, in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

A crematorium employee holds a wooden box to store the ashes of a person who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), after the cremation at Parque Cementerio Zipaquira, in Zipaquira, Colombia June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita

À Surat, une ville indienne de six millions d'habitants principalement connue pour le polissage de diamants, au moins sept crématoriums et cimetières ont vu leur nombre de crémations et d'inhumations tripler en avril par rapport à l’année dernière.

UPDATE New slug In Surat, a city of six million people in Gujarat that is best known for its diamond-polishing industry, at least seven crematoriums and graveyards saw a more than threefold rise in the number of cremations and burials in April versus a year ago.

How burial grounds and crematoriums across India were overwhelmed with bodies following a devastating second wave of COVID-19 infections

A woman reacts during the cremation of her relative, who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium ground in Srinagar May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Ismail

Relatives of a man who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mourn during his cremation at a crematorium ground in Srinagar May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Ismail TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Relatives stand next to the burning pyre of a man who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during his cremation at a crematorium ground in Srinagar May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Ismail TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Suresh Kumar, 43, the husband of Pramila Devi, 36, who died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and Devi's son Suraj Kumar, 16, watch her cremation on the banks of the river Ganges in Pauri Garhwal, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, May 24, 2021. Devi's eldest daughter got married and moved away in late April after the family hosted a ceremony attended by over two dozen people, her husband Kumar told Reuters. Two weeks after that Devi suffered a bout of diarrhoea. But it was not until 10 days later that Kumar, who has no income and depends on handouts, took her to a nearby dispensary that has been turned into a small COVID-19 facility with four beds. Devi tested positive for COVID-19 with very low blood oxygen levels. She died a day later. "I'm yet to inform my eldest daughter of her mother's death," a distraught Kumar said, as he crouched on the banks of the Ganges. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui SEARCH "PRAMILA SIDDIQUI" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

Family members and relatives of Pramila Devi, 36, who died from complications related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), react as she is cremated on the banks of the river Ganges at Pauri Garhwal in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, May 24, 2021. Devi's eldest daughter got married and moved away in late April after the family hosted a ceremony attended by over two dozen people, her husband Suresh Kumar, 43, told Reuters. Two weeks after that Devi suffered a bout of diarrhoea. But it was not until 10 days later that Kumar, who has no income and depends on handouts, took her to a nearby dispensary that has been turned into a small COVID-19 facility with four beds. Devi tested positive for COVID-19 with very low blood oxygen levels. She died a day later. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui SEARCH "PRAMILA SIDDIQUI" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

The burning pyre of Pramila Devi, 36, who died from complications related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is seen during her cremation on the banks of the river Ganges in Pauri Garhwal in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, May 24, 2021. Devi's eldest daughter got married and moved away in late April after the family hosted a ceremony attended by over two dozen people, her husband Suresh Kumar, 43, told Reuters. Two weeks after that Devi suffered a bout of diarrhoea. But it was not until 10 days later that Kumar, who has no income and depends on handouts, took her to a nearby dispensary that has been turned into a small COVID-19 facility with four beds. Devi tested positive for COVID-19 with very low blood oxygen levels. She died a day later. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui SEARCH "PRAMILA SIDDIQUI" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES