Many crematoriums have only a week’s stock left

JAIPUR: With supply of logs taking a beating during lockdown, most of the crematoriums in Jaipur are feeling the pinch. Many of them have a week’s stock left. Although authorities are ready to give them permission to transport logs, there are no labourers.

Since funerals cannot be deferred, the crisis is making people who run the crematoriums worried.

Pandit Mukesh Sharma, who manages affairs in a crematorium at Raja Park, said they would only be able to perform about seven cremations. “We do not have the stock as transportation is banned and we are running out of firewood. We usually get 2–4 cremations every week. This is a serious issue that authorities must take into consideration. Deaths won’t stop during lockdown,” said Sharma.

A body requires at least 5 quintals of firewood but in the time of scarcity, crematoriums are trying to get the job done with 4 quintals.

Manager of Cheelgadi crematorium in Pratap Nagar, Anil Sharma, said they are out of firewood. “We do not have the stock. There is no other crematorium in the next 9km due to which it is a big problem for us. Many a times, firewood-carrying trucks tried to enter the city but were not given permission. No driver is ready to take the risk of going to jail. Even if we get the permission to transport firewood, there are no labourers available. We get wood from Bassi, but most of the woodcutters are not working,” said Sharma.

All the managers of the crematoriums pointed out one important fact that the number of cremation have gone down by 50% since the lockdown. The reason given was the lower number of accidents and better health conditions. Accidents used to consist of major cremations as per the crematorium owners which are negligible now-a-days. Similarly, they said that people are taking care of their health while staying at home which has reduced the number of cremation. Some positive points in the lockdown.

Another issue is that people usually go to Haridwar or Pushkar for immersing the ashes of the dead, but amid the lockdown that is not possible. “Most of the crematoriums provide lockers where ashes can be kept for a few days,” said Prem Chandani, manager at Hadi Ghati crematorium.

He further said, “Due to the lockdown, people cannot go for immersion of the ashes which is usually done on the third day after the cremation. Though locker facility is provided, now only three lockers are left in our crematorium. Similar challenges are being faced everywhere. It is a crisis as neither firewood is available nor lockers. We need to make arrangements in the city immediately to keep the ashes. These should also be declared as essential services. The dead cannot wait till the lockdown is lifted.”

