Crematoriums need to be better prepared for outages

Relatives perform last rites of the deceased in mobile phone’s flashlight. Pic/ Hanif Patel

A Nalasopara resident recently conducted the last rites of his mother in the flashlight of mobile phones, thanks to the dysfunctional power back-up at a crematorium run by the Vasai-Virar Municipal authorities. A report stated that the Samelpada crematorium needs urgent attention. As a body was rested on the pyre, the electricity went out. There was no generator or inverter available there.

Since it was impossible to wait, the family turned on their mobile phone flashlights to complete the last rites. One can imagine the plight of a traumatised family, which is already struggling to process emotions, being forced to cremate through phone light. Crematorium officials stated that the equipment was dysfunctional, but it should have been made functional in double quick time.

In south Mumbai, we have an organisation called Dignity in Death, which fights for better conditions at crematoriums. In this particular case, the relevant authorities had a banal ‘we will see what we can do' answer to the problem when the affected family brought up the matter. While electricity was only one part, the other was that the wood was getting wet and those who bring a body for cremation are also told to watch out for snakes in the wood.

This is indignity heaped upon those grieving and already battling with a loss. Immediate remedial measures are a must, instead of finger pointing or placatory statements and feigning surprise about not knowing the poor conditions at this facility. The COVID-19 situation threw the poor conditions at several cremation grounds across the nation not just the city and its outer limits into sharp focus. We need dedicated work towards overall uplift and maintenance. The fragile mental state of those who come to bid their loved ones goodbye cannot and should not be compounded by these shocking conditions.