Kankai: The Kankai Ghat in Kankai Municipality-4 of Jhapa is set to introduce an electric crematorium soon.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the construction of the electric crematorium on the eastern bank of the Kankai River has been completed at a cost of Rs 23 million. The Koshi Province Government contributed Rs 20 million to the initiative, while the Municipality provided Rs 2 million and various donors added Rs 1 million.
Kankai Municipality Mayor Rajendra Kumar Pokharel stated that a working procedure has been developed for operating the crematorium, which is expected to commence formal operations within a week. Gopal Kharel, General Secretary of the Kankai Ghat Management Committee and Coordinator of the Electric Crematorium Infrastructure Construction Committee, revealed that the body of an 80-year-old woman was cremated during a test of the machine. He noted that the electric crematorium takes approximately 50 minutes to cremate a full-size human body, compared to the 3 to 3.5 hours previously required using firewood.
The electric crematorium is anticipated to conserve firewood and reduce the time needed for traditional cremation, while also contributing to environmental protection.