Wood pyre cremations suspended for 5 days at Nimtala Ghat due to repair work

Traditional wood pyre cremations at Kolkata’s historic Nimtala Crematorium (Nimtala Shamshan Ghat) will remain temporarily suspended for the next four to five days due to essential infrastructure maintenance and repair work. The administrative announcement was made public by Pawan Tibrewal, the Secretary of Prerna Foundation, which acts as the official management and caretaking body for the facility. 

Despite the suspension of the traditional wooden pyre services, the management has assured citizens that the electric cremation units at the facility will remain fully operational. Families arriving at the crematorium can utilize the electric furnaces without any disruptions, as special arrangements have been made to handle the additional volume. The administrative team is working to ensure that the alternative electric system functions at maximum capacity to prevent any inconvenience to grieving families during this maintenance window.

Pawan Tibrewal stated that the civic and technical teams have already begun the repair work on an expedited basis to ensure the wood-burning pyre area can be safely reopened within the stipulated timeframe. The management has actively communicated with local funeral coordinators and municipal ward offices to redirect or prepare families regarding the available options.