Hyderabad Crematorium Grapples with Severe Amenities Crisis

As of November 2, 2025, the Smashana Vatika crematorium in Hyderabad's Shaikpet area is grappling with a severe crisis due to a lack of basic amenities. The four-acre crematorium site is currently in a state of disrepair, with piles of garbage, overgrown trees, and a foul smell that puts visitors at great inconvenience.

Locals report that the crematorium lacks a caretaker and essential facilities such as functional streetlights and an operational bathroom. This has created significant challenges for families who come to perform the last rites of their loved ones. Siddha Murari Gandhi, whose relative passed away three weeks ago, recounts having to use the high beams of his car for visibility during the night-time rituals, as the streetlights were not working.

Residents say they had organized a cleanup drive using their own money during Diwali, but less than a month later, the garbage has piled up again. "People living in residential houses and running commercial establishments use this road just to dump their rubbish here," said Bootham Balakrishnan, a local businessman.

Fortunately, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has allocated 60 lakh rupees to renovate the crematorium. The work is set to begin soon, starting with the construction of a restroom, for which 24 lakh rupees have been sanctioned.