The crematorium at Salgajhuri on the outskirts of the steel city is set to witness an overhaul with installation of an electric furnace and two additional platforms for cremating bodies.

The construction work for setting up platforms, a Kali temple and beautification of the burning ghat is under progress. Funds were being arranged for installing an electric furnace.

An old Kali temple already exists within the premises and it will be replaced by a new one.

The Subarnarekha and Parvati ghats witnessed an overwhelming number of bodies when Covid cases were high in the steel city. The former burning ghat is also reserved for Covid bodies.

The electric furnaces of both these burning ghats often tripped forcing the management committees to make arrangements of extra platforms for cremation of bodies on wood.

The load of cremating bodies at Subarnarekha and Parvati ghats would lessen once the amenities are functional at Salgajhuri ghat.

At present, the crematorium, run by the Kali temple committee, has a single platform that results in cremation of bodies in very few numbers.

“Besides setting up two additional platforms, beautification and construction of a Kali temple, a pond will also be dug up,” said Pradip Guha, president of the Kali temple committee. “We’ll arrange funds from well wishers for installing the electric furnace,” he added.

Residents would not have to depend on Subarnarekha, Parvati and Shiv Ghats once the additional facilities are set up at the crematorium at Saljhuri. Those from Parsudih, Rahargora, Bavangora, Barigora, Govidpur, Sopodera, Jemco, Sarjamda, Lakshminagar, Manifit and Gadra are dependent on burning ghats in the steel city.

The Salgajhuri management committee issues death certificates to people coming for cremation. Earlier, bodies were cremated under the supervision of a priest till the responsibility was taken over by the panel.