In Ludhiana, mourners shell out more money for cremations as price of LPG cylinder skyrockets

In Ludhiana, the skyrocketing price of commercial LPG cylinders has resulted in a steep increase in charges at gas crematoriums, with families of Covid victims forced to shell out up to Rs 6,000 for one funeral.

Ludhiana has two gas crematoriums — one opposite the military complex at Dholewal run by Ramgarhia Educational Council, and the Swami Vivekanand Swarg Ashram Shamshan Ghat at Model Town Extension. Before the pandemic, Ludhiana’s gas crematoriums were largely dysfunctional and were made operational only after Covid-19 cases started spiking in the city.

Most families prefer wood cremations due to its lower cost.