Now, two dozen bodies found on Ganga banks in UP's Ghazipur

A.K. Pandey, the SHO of Gahmar police station in Ghazipur, told IANS that the bodies were found in a decomposed stage on the bank of the Ganga river.

"Preliminary investigation reveals that the dead bodies could be 18 to 20 days old. There were 23 dead bodies recovered from the river and some of the dead bodies were partially cremated and then thrown into the river.

"Officials including SDM-rank officers visited the area to assess the situation. We have recovered the dead bodies and disposed of them under the guidelines," he added.

Pandey said that following the incident, they have intensified river patrolling through boats and also deployed chowkidars (watchmen) in the areas located on the bank of Ganga river to keep an eye on wrongdoings.

"We have also received complaints about several persons partially cremating dead bodies and throwing them into the Ganga. The District Magistrate has deployed chowkidars at cremation ghats of the Ganga," he said.

On Monday, around 45 dead bodies in a decomposed stage were found on the banks of the Ganga in Buxar district, and the district administration claimed the bodies were from the upstream districts of Ghazipur, Varanasi or Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.