Civic bodies add pyre platforms to handle rush in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Witnessing an increase in the number of funerals due to the pandemic, the municipal corporations are creating space for more pyre platforms at major cremation grounds. With 367 platforms already reserved for Covid patients, the facilities catering to non-corona bodies are facing extra load and space crunch.
Hence, additional platforms are being added at several crematoria, including Hastsal, Bindapur, Subhash Nagar and Nigambodh.An official of South Delhi Municipal Corporation said 20 pyre platforms were being added to the existing 35 pyres at Hastsal crematorium, a Covid-designated facility. It is working in coordination with the Punjabi Bagh crematorium, a Covid-only facility. “Whenever we find that Punjabi Bagh may get overburdened, we divert bodies to Hastsal,” he said.
At the Bindapur crematorium, space has been marked for 12 additional platforms while the Subhash Nagar cremation ground, a key facility in west Delhi, now has 40 platforms instead of the previous 34. “Space for 12 more platforms has been found here and the NGO running it has agreed to further increase the number,” the official said. With Punjabi Bagh being a Covid-only facility, the load on the smaller crematoria is increasing for non-Covid last rites.
ANorth Delhi Municipal Corporation official said at Nigambodh Ghat crematorium, Delhi’s biggest facility, 13 conventional wood-based platforms are being added to the existing 44 pyres for Covid bodies. “Three dysfunctional CNG furnaces are also being repaired, which will make six furnaces operational,” he said.
The capital has more than 53 big crematoria, including Nigambodh Ghat, Punjabi Bagh, Lodhi Road, Sarai Kale Khan, Green Park, Dwarka and Karol Bagh.