Lucknow: Over 30 unclaimed and rotten bodies were found floating Tuesday in a canal in Unnao, 60 km from Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, police said.

Officials, soon after the discovery of the bodies noticed by the locals, rushed to the Periyar Ghat where people go to consign mortal remains to flames. Police said these bodies were of people whose families did not have enough money to give them a decent cremation.

Inspector General of Police (Kanpur) Ashutosh Pandey said due to lack of money, the bodies were either dumped by families in the shallow waters of the Ganga or left buried under sand in the encatchment area.

These, he added, would float after being eaten up by river animals and fishes. Some bodies were half burnt and half eaten up, officials informed IANS.

Inspector General (Law and Order) A. Satish Ganesh informed that police were looking into all possible angles.

Saumya Agarwal, district magistrate of Unnao, has since ordered the cremation of all the bodies. Initially it was rumoured that the bodies were of victims those who were killed in Unnao's hooch tragedy Monday.

Laxmikant Bajpayi, BJP state president, also reached the scene after news of bodies being recovered reached to him.

He spoke to senior government officials and asked them not to use machines to lift the bodies, instead he advised to get autopsies conducted and give them a decent cremation Wednesday.