Nigambodh Ghat flooded, other crematoriums get busier
“Water would enter the Nigambodh ghat after it rained every year, but a situation like this would hardly ever occur where it becomes completely inoperable," an MCD officer said.
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Yamuna river near Wazirabad. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav/Representational Image)
After Nigambodh Ghat was closed following water entering its premises, those looking to cremate their loved ones there had to turn to other crematoriums in the city.
By Thursday, the century-old Nigambodh ghat was submerged in water pausing cremation activities. Cremation grounds in Wazirabad, Geeta Colony and Sarai Kale Khan also stood waterlogged. As a result, according to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), other crematoriums saw a slight uptick in the number of bodies being cremated.
“The flood has hampered the cremation activity,” an MCD report stated. To avoid inconvenience in performing last rites, the MCD had issued a list of 12 alternative cremation areas on Thursday.
On Friday, the Ghazipur crematorium which receives around 10 bodies in a day, saw 20 bodies. The Panchkuian crematorium received 13 bodies as opposed to its usual number of around 4 bodies. There was a slight difference in the number of bodies that the Karkardooma crematorium received as well, said officials.
“Crematoriums in Punjabi Bagh, Sant Nagar, Jwala Nagar, Seemapuri, Dakshinpuri and Green Park have all received slightly higher numbers of bodies than they usually do,” an MCD official said.
Area Councillor and AAP leader Vikas Tonk, said people were coming to the Nigambodh Ghat to perform last rites until Thursday, but officials had to reroute them to Punjabi Bagh and Panchkuian crematorium.
Nigambodh Ghat is the national capital’s largest and busiest crematorium. “Nigambodh Ghat is special because people travel from far away places to perform the last rites of their loved ones; many believe that performing funeral rites at the Nigambodh Ghat is more auspicious than performing them anywhere else…this is why people travel from far away places to cremate their family member,” BJP spokesperson Praveen Kapoor explained.
In its statement Wednesday, the MCD had said: “Residents may face inconvenience as Yamuna water can enter Nigambodh Ghat premises. The general public is hereby advised to use cremation facilities at cremation grounds near Nigambodh Ghat or other cremation grounds in their neighbourhood.”
“Water would enter the Nigambodh ghat after it rained every year, but a situation like this would hardly ever occur where it becomes completely inoperable,” an MCD officer said.
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