New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Even the dead were not spared as Nigambodh Ghat – one of the biggest cremation grounds in the city – was flooded after heavy rains lashed the capital Sunday. Cremations had to be stopped for a day as the ground was under three-feet deep water.
Speaking to IANS, crematorium supervisor, Naresh Ahuja said: ‘Due to the heavy downpour this (Sunday) morning, the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium was flooded and cremations were stopped for the day. About five bodies were sent back.’
‘About 40 bodies are brought here for cremation every day but the count has gone down since the rains started,’ Ahuja said.
Nigambodh Ghat is one of the city’s biggest crematoriums with 120 wooden pyres and six CNG-powered chambers.
‘It becomes difficult for people to go in search of other crematorium grounds, which are at least 10 km away from here. Today (Sunday) we sent five corpses away and the mourners got irritated,’ Ahuja said.
‘Adding to the rains, the sewage line also got blocked which made the conditions worse. As the sewage water and rain water got mixed, it led to waterlogging,’ Ahuja said.
He also said that waterlogging is a perennial problem at the crematorium and every monsoon they have to face the same situation.
