The gas-based crematorium in Mink Shola, Udhagamandalam, that was built at a cost of Rs. 70 lakh and was lying disused since 2012, was finally deemed to be fully functional earlier this month.

When it was first built, the crematorium was to be maintained by the Rotary Club of Ootacamund. However, as the trials conducted at the facility had failed, the crematorium was lying abandoned since 2012, when the maintenance was contracted to a private firm in Chennai.

The municipality had been taking steps since then to revive the project, and during the end of 2016, they once again began taking steps to make the crematorium fully functional.

V Prabhakaran, Health Officer and Commissioner (in-charge), Udhagamandalam Municipality, said that the cost of cremating bodies at the facility was yet to be decided, but added that the crematorium was now fully functional. He said that flex boards would be put up at burial sites across the Nilgiris as well, to inform the public about the crematorium.

The public can approach the municipality office to arrange for funerals at the facility.