Three electric furnaces at Subarnarekha burning ghat in Bhuinyandih have been rendered non-operational owing to the load of cremating Covid bodies.

The district administration has earmarked the ghat for the cremation of Covid bodies after 1 pm.

Joint secretary of Subarnarekha Ghat managing committee, Ganesh Rao said cremating Covid bodies was proving to be a Herculean task in such a situation.

“Three out of four furnaces are not functional due to the extra load. The furnaces are being repaired by a Calcutta-based agency. It will take two-three days for the furnaces to get functional,” he added.

According to Rao, the furnaces need rest because they have been functional non-stop.

Cremation beds kept ready at Parvati ghat in Jugsalai, Jamshedpur on Wednesday. Bhola Prasad

“Over 40 Covid bodies are coming for cremation daily. It was 46 on Tuesday while 53 bodies were cremated a day before (Monday). It is obvious for the furnaces to stop functioning,” he said.

The ghat management committee is spending sleepless nights as Covid bodies are coming one after another. “We spend day and night at the crematorium to complete the formalities. The situation was not like this last year in Covid times,” Rao said.

He pointed out that the furnaces would again stop functioning after necessary repairs. “We are finding ourselves at wits end in finding a solution since the volume of Covid bodies is increasing almost every day,” the ghat joint secretary added.

Though the rate of cremating Covid bodies is Rs 1,500 but the ghat management panel is charging Rs 2,000. “We take extra money to pay people who complete the last rites of Covid bodies since families and relatives are not allowed to do the same,” Rao stated.

He added they are procuring wood on a daily basis while the district administration is also helping them out. Wood is used for cremating non- Covid bodies which are also cremated in good numbers.

Both the Subarnarekha ghat and Parvati ghat in Jugsalai are showing philanthropic gesture. The latter is offering a discount for cremating bodies. Non-Covid bodies are cremated at the Parvati ghat.

With the number of bodies coming for cremation at Parvati ghat increasing, the ghat management has started preparing cremation beds in advance.

“We don’t want wait-listing of bodies and hence keep the cremation beds ready for the last rites. The charge for cremating bodies on wood is Rs 3,500 but we are charging Rs 3,000. We also ask families to pay money as per their capacity. Sometimes we don’t even charge money from people who cannot afford it,” said ghat management committee secretary Dipendra Bhatt.

According to him, they have also started a fundraising campaign to meet the daily expenses in running the facility. The ghat also has two electric furnaces. Over 40 bodies are coming for cremation at this ghat daily.

The Subarnarekha ghat management committee is also showing the same gesture. “We don’t ask for money from people who cannot afford it. We are doing this on humanitarian grounds. We need to support each other in this difficult time,” said Rao.