The electric crematorium at Pingalasthan began its operation on Sunday.

The facility run by Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) was inaugurated by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokhrel.

Govinda Tandon, the PADT member secretary, said the electric crematorium is cost-effective and eco-friendly compared to the use of traditional wooden pyres used to burn bodies.

“We know it will take some time for the facility to attract people, but we are banking our hopes on the fact that people will realise electric cremation is cheaper and also conserves the environment,” said Tandon.

Nearly 300 kg wood is needed to cremate a body on a pyre which costs around Rs 7,000.

However, cremating body in electric crematorium is much cheaper (Rs 3,000). It also consumes less time; it takes about 45 minutes to burn a body in the electric crematorium.

The PADT has already conducted a successful trial operation of the facility by burning to unclaimed bodies of the April 25 earthquake victims.

The facility will receive uninterrupted power supply while the PADT has also installed a power backup.

The crematorium building has a cooling store that could hold up to 20 bodies and separate rooms with hot shower for the mourners.

The facility has two incinerators worth Rs26 million which were built by Indomen Engineering Service, Kolkata.