Surat industrialists come forward to help crematoriums

SURAT: The crematorium infrastructure, reeling under the pressure of round the clock operation due mounting Covid death toll, got a welcome helping hand from a group of city industrialists. Due to technical snags in the gas furnaces, the cremation was getting delayed at the three main crematoriums here and the administration was forced to shift to wooden pyres.
On coming to know about the situation, the city industrialists decided to help the administration in the current crisis. “I discussed the problem with my friend Rohit and decided that we should help the crematoriums to solve the problem. We then approached the city police commissioner Ajay Tomar and also contacted the crematoriums,” said Nimesh Bachkaniwala, managing director of Himson Ceramics.
“Industrialists like Jayanti Kabutarwala and Bharat Waghbakriwala have also offered their support to ensure that the crematoriums find a way out of the current situation. Gradually, the situation at the crematoriums is improving,” said Bachkaniwala.
The industrialists are offering technical support to solve the maintenance issues at the crematoriums. “The industrialists are not only provided material to help run the furnaces but are also helping in repairing it by sending their technicians. The support has helped us a lot in serving the people,” said Harish Umrigar, president of Ramnath Ghela Crematorium, Umra.
“City’s crematoriums had some issues when the group of industrialists came forward with the offer of help. We worked out a system in which the crematorium staff raises their issues and the group tries their best to solve it,” Tomar told TOI.