The country’s first-ever electric crematorium at Pingalasthan in Kathmandu has failed to come into operation in the absence of technicians.

Officials at the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) said their plan to run the facility from mid-September was disrupted after the machine operators left for their home in India to observe the Bishwo Karma puja.

“They will return after Tihar. Only then we will be able to operate the crematorium,” said Saresh Nepal, the newly appointed PADT member secretary.  

The PADT has contracted three technicians to operate the crematorium. “They will be replaced after three months,” Nepal said.

The PADT has already conducted the trial operation of the crematorium by burning two unidentified bodies of the April 25  earthquake victims.

At a time when the country is reeling under an acute fuel crises caused by unofficial trade blockade by India, environmentalist say the crematorium could be one of the best alternative to save firewood.

The cost effective eco-friendly facility could burn a body within 45 minutes while it takes nearly three hours in traditional pyre. It takes up to 300kg firewood to burn a dead body and it costs over Rs 7,000.

The electric crematorium could do the job for half that price, officials said.