Kalimpong Secures Temporary Cremation Site After Flood Damage

Yowan Mothay, KALIMPONG, DECEMBER 5, 2024 : The issue of cremation site accessibility in Kalimpong and its surrounding areas has been temporarily resolved, following the destruction of the local cremation ground in the devastating floods of October 4, 2023. A newly constructed road from National Highway-10 at Labarbotay to the banks of the river Teesta now provides a safer and more accessible route for residents to perform last rites. 

For nearly a year, the community had been forced to rely on a damaged and unsafe site for cremations. The completion of this road excavation project offers a provisional solution, ensuring that funeral rites can be conducted in a more secure and dignified manner.

This temporary resolution is the result of coordinated efforts between community leaders, local officials, and the government. A new cremation site has been identified near the railway tunnel (SRRP T8) adjacent to Labarbotay, and the site has been allocated for use by the government. This offers the Hindu community in Kalimpong a more secure and dignified space for conducting funeral rites in the interim.

Residents have expressed gratitude towards several officials for their timely intervention, including Kalimpong District Magistrate Balasubramanian T., MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha, Divisional Forest Officer Chitrak Bhattacharjee, and 33rd Constituency Executive Councilor Sinora Namchu.

Sinora Namchu remarked, “The floods not only destroyed the cremation ground but also caused immense hardship for the local community. With support from the district administration, we have constructed a temporary road to the river Teesta, alleviating the immediate problem. Additionally, we have proposed the construction of a permanent cremation site to GTA Chief Executive Anit Thapa and MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha.”

While the temporary resolution has brought relief, local leaders continue to push for a permanent cremation site, emphasizing the need for a long-term solution that respects cultural traditions and provides a dignified space for last rites.