The Chaltlang neighbourhood here got a multi-storey concrete cemetery on Saturday, the first of its kind in Mizoram, to cope with the rising graveyard crisis.

The five-storeyed cemetery, which houses at least 163 readymade graves, was inaugurated by chief minister Zoramthanga on Saturday, Chaltlang branch of Young Mizo Association president Hnamhlunchhunga said on Sunday.

He said the purpose was to cater to the needs of the people and to alleviate the graveyard crisis caused by the increasing population.

He added that the new cemetery will also provide environmental safety as the facility will prevent subsidence of graveyards during the rainy season.

According to Hnamhlunchhunga, on an average at least 55 to 60 people die every year in Chaltlang and 63 people were buried in the Chaltlang cemetery last year.

Zoramthanga congratulated the people of Chaltlang neighbourhood for developing the first high-rise cemetery in the state.

He said the state capital has began facing a graveyard shortage owing to the increase in population triggered by migration from rural areas.

He said graveyards subsided on several occasions in the state capital during the rainy season owing to loose soil.

Zoramthanga expressed hope the new multi-storeyed concrete graveyard will serve its purpose and benefit the people.

The multi-storeyed graveyard was built under the initiative of the Chaltlang YMA unit with funding from the state urban development and poverty alleviation department.

The construction of the Rs 29.73-lakh project began in January last year and was completed in October of that year.

The cemetery is 80-foot tall and 16-foot wide.

There are 27 graves in each storey and each grave has a pipe connected to a drain in the ground.

Besides the main cemetery, another multi-hole concrete graveyard, which houses 28 graves, has also been built.