Gamharia resident Ashit Mahto, who brought the body of his father Shiv Prasad Mahto to cremate at Parvati Ghat in Bistupur, Jamshedpur, on Monday morning, had to go to Subernarekha Burning Ghat in Sakchi. Reason, Parvati Ghat staff were on protest against the July 15 murder of their manager.

For Mahto, who redirected the hearse from Bistupur to Sakchi, an extra 7km, distance didn't cause distress, sentiments did. "We'd all wanted my father's cremation at Parvati Ghat as the last rites of many members of my family have been done there. That wish went unfulfilled."

Another bereaved man, Budhram Hembrom, who also came with the body of his father Lenge Hembrom from Rajnagar block in Seraikela-Kharsawan, about 30km from the city, on Monday morning, said it was a big shock to be turned away from a crematorium gate. "We went to the Sakchi crematorium where we had to wait for over seven hours for our turn owing to the rush there."

No cremation took place at Parvati Ghat in Bistupur for the second consecutive day on Monday. Parvati Ghat's 14-member staff refused to cremate six bodies each on Sunday and Monday, with gatekeeper D. Gopal Rao keeping gates closed and directing the bereaved to Subernarekha ghat instead.

On an average, nine bodies are cremated at Parvati Ghat every day at the sole electric furnace and on traditional wooden fires.

Though sacked Parvati Ghat employee Bharat Gaur who allegedly avenged himself by slitting the throat of 56-year-old manager Surojit Sarkar (not Sarbajit as reported) at the latter's office on ghat premises (under Jugsalai thana area), was arrested immediately, employees went on stressing they felt insecure owing to the nature of the crime.

East Singhbhum DC Amit Kumar, whom they met on Monday evening seeking security, said the needful would be done from Tuesday, prompting the staff to say they were likely to open the crematorium too, when they "felt safe" enough.

"The staff of Parvati Ghat met me and I have directed the police to arrange proper security from tomorrow (Tuesday)," the DC said.

As Jamshedpur has only two burning ghats, with the Bistupur one closed on Sunday and Monday, the one at Sakchi bore the extra burden.

On Sunday, 21 bodies were cremated at Subernarekha ghat in Sakchi.

In-charge of the Sakchi facility Bipin Singh Sardar said 15 bodies were cremated in the furnace and five more in wooden fires. "Due to the rise in the number of bodies, we started our second furnace too, which is rarely used, but the power line linked to it tripped. We called in technicians from Calcutta to repair the line who would come on Tuesday," Sardar said.