The ash on his white vest is a symbol of the hard work he has been doing for the past three days. Chhetri had already assisted in cremating four dead by mid-day on Wednesday.
He expressed that the commencement of the electric cremation machine which has long over-due, would have been a respite for both the cremation attendants and families of earthquake victims.
"The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has been very insensitive, even at this critical hour, as operational of the electric crematorium would have been a respite for all," said Chhetri.
He is one of the 32 cremation assistants, known as ghate bajes, who has been buring up to six dead bodies a day following the massive earthquakes on Saturday.
At least 150-200 dead bodies are being brought at Aryaghat for cremation a day following the quake which has already killed more than 5,000 people.
"Working under so much pressure means risking our health too,' he added.
Laxman, who has been working as cremation attendant for the last 25 years, added that the lack of firewood to burn the dead bodies should have been addressed by the PADT.
Likewise, another cremation attendant Narayan Satyal, 42, added that the attendants don't even have time to drink water or eat food ads the flow of dead bodies has increased substantially in last four days.
"I underwent health problems on the very first day after cremating the dead bodies of earthquake victims," informed Satyal adding. "However, I couldn't rest at home because the whole nation is facing a serious tragedy but the PADT seems to not be touched by this."
According to Ghat Service Center at Pashupatinath temple, a total of 481 earthquake victims have been cremated so far. The daily influx of dead bodies on their regular days is 20-25, the center informed.
On the other hand Member-secretary of the PADT Govind Tondon informed that the flow of dead bodies is not enough to operate the electric crematorium now.
"Once the machine is operated, it should be kept running continuously for seven days," Tondon was quoted as saying.
It has been learnt that the PADT is yet to bring equipmetns to inaugurate the electric crematorium which cremates a dead body in just 45 minutes.
The PADT started the construction of the Electric Cremation House four years ago at an estimated cost of Rs 110 million but frequent delays during construction have forced hundreds of earthquake victims to cremate dead bodies themselves or without fulfilling the rituals of cremation.
"We were unable to start the electronic crematorium on the time due to technical errors but we are hopeful that we can operation it within two montsh," informed Tondon.
Related story
CIAA initiates investigation into alleged corruption by PADT of...
-1200x560_20231207135130.jpg)
