Pune’s largest crematorium, Vaikunth Dham, has temporarily suspended all gas-based cremations after facing a severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), officials confirmed. The disruption affects the facility’s three gas-operated furnaces and comes at a time when LPG supply chains across India are under strain due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Although authorities have earlier reassured the public about adequate national fuel reserves, the shortage has begun affecting certain commercial and institutional users.
All cremations at the facility are currently being conducted through electric systems. According to Nilesh Kalekar, Executive Engineer of the Pune Municipal Corporation, the crematorium has only enough LPG left to conduct two more gas-based cremations, with each requiring around 18 kilograms of fuel. Spread across nearly 17 acres in Navi Peth, Vaikunth Dham typically handles close to 20 cremations per day, making it one of Maharashtra’s busiest funeral facilities.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has issued a public notice stating that gas-based cremation units will remain shut until further orders, and funeral services will continue through alternative systems. The supply disruption follows a March 5 directive from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas that prioritised LPG allocation for domestic household use over commercial consumption. Under this order, available propane and butane stocks must be reserved primarily for households to prevent inconvenience to domestic consumers amid geopolitical disruptions affecting fuel imports.
As a result of this policy shift, the crematorium has not received fresh LPG consignments, forcing authorities to suspend operations of gas pyres. Civic officials stressed that alternative arrangements remain fully operational. The facility’s five electric furnaces and wood-based cremation systems, which are equipped with air pollution control mechanisms, continue to function to ensure uninterrupted essential services for citizens.
Kalekar said the move to electric cremations is intended to maintain continuity of funeral services during the fuel shortage. Authorities reiterated that residents will not face disruption in last rites, as backup systems are designed to handle demand.
Earlier, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had assured the public that domestic LPG supplies remain stable and that India holds sufficient overall energy reserves. Indian Oil Corporation also stated that fuel distribution networks across the country are functioning normally and advised citizens against panic buying.
Officials said the gas-based cremation facilities will reopen once LPG availability improves. Until then, electric and wood-fired systems will continue to serve as the primary modes for funeral services, with authorities closely monitoring fuel supply conditions and issuing updates as the situation evolves.
