Pune: The Vaikunth crematorium, the largest and busiest in Pune, faces severe overcrowding on Saturdays as families increasingly insist on conducting final rites using traditional wooden pyres instead of electric or gas furnaces.

The issue arises because, unlike electric and gas cremations where ashes are collected immediately, wooden pyres require ash collection the following day. This delay blocks cremation platforms, causing long queues and waits of up to three hours for families.

If cremations take place on Fridays, ashes are processed on Sundays, leaving Saturdays with high demand for the limited wooden pyre platforms. In some cases, final rites are postponed until Sunday due to the backlog. Families often resort to using influence to access sheds reserved for important individuals.

Vaikunth crematorium serves not only the central city but also citizens from suburban areas, further straining its capacity. Pune has 29 crematoriums, including gas and electric furnaces, but Vaikunth remains the preferred choice due to tradition and convenience.

Social activist Paresh Khandke emphasized the need for better facilities, saying, “Wooden pyre cremation is a long-standing tradition. Many families are unwilling to use electric or gas furnaces. It is unfortunate that people need to seek influence even for such basic rituals. The municipal corporation must increase the number of sheds to address the issue.”

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Electric Department Head Manisha Shekatkar stated, “The city’s crematoriums are equipped with gas and electric furnaces as well as wooden pyres, but Vaikunth faces a heavy influx, especially on Saturdays. Residents should prioritize crematoriums near their homes. Using electric or gas furnaces at Vaikunth would help reduce inconvenience and also curb pollution.”