The Jamshedpur forest division has swung into action to bail out two steel city burning ghats, which are facing an acute crisis of timber, owing to an increase in the volume of bodies coming for daily cremation.

Timber stocked in Jubilee Park has been earmarked and would now be made available to Subarnarekha ghat in Bhuiyadih and Parvati ghat in Jugsalai.

Over 50 cremations take place daily at Subarnarekha ghat which is reserved for cremating Covid bodies after 1 pm while over 40 are consigned to the flames at Parvati ghat.

Electric furnaces at both the burning ghats had stopped functioning in view of the overload of bodies last week. However, the problem has now been sorted out, with the ones at Parvati ghat being mended. The two (out of four) furnaces at the Subarnarekha ghat have been repaired and are functioning now.

However, the number of non-Covid bodies has increased manifold and are therefore cremated on wood. Resultantly, demand for timber has increased but the managing committees of both ghats used to maintain limited stock earlier.

“The timber lying inside the Jubilee Park will be provided to Subarnarekha and Parvati ghats which are facing a crisis. We have already inspected the timber at the park.,” an official at Jamshedpur forest division said on condition of anonymity.

Parvati ghat manager Vinod Tiwary said they were facing a crisis of timber since the number of bodies coming for last rites has increased. “Two truckloads of timber are supplied by a local supplier daily, but now the demand has increased. It is good that the Jamshedpur forest division is arranging the same for us. We need it for hassle-free cremations,” he added.

A functionary of Subarnarekha ghat said the shortage of timber was obvious in this situation. “We have never witnessed such a high number of bodies coming for daily cremations. Bodies were also being cremated at a vacant space inside the burning ghat,” he added.

Covid bodies were also cremated on wood when the furnaces were not functioning.

Some social organisations of the steel city are also helping out the crematoriums by providing timber.