When even death isn’t safe: Ashes theft spark shock and anger in Solan
AI generated photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Dec 25,
In a deeply disturbing incident that cuts to the core of human dignity, the last remains of a woman kept for religious immersion were allegedly stolen from the Chambaghat crematorium in Solan. The shocking revelation has not only shattered the grieving family but has reignited a growing crisis of trust in the city’s funeral management system.
The woman, a resident of Ward No. 5 under Solan Municipal Corporation, was cremated around ten days ago. In accordance with tradition, her ashes were respectfully placed inside a designated locker at the crematorium, awaiting immersion in Haridwar. But when her family arrived Thursday morning to take the remains on their final sacred journey, they found the locker broken — the urn, ashes, and puja items completely missing.
Already mourning, the family was pushed into a second wave of anguish — one far more helpless and unimaginable. “Stealing someone’s remains is like killing a person twice,” a relative said through tears, pleading for swift action and accountability.
A police complaint has been lodged. What remains unclear is the motive: Who steals ashes — and why? Police sources say angles such as ritualistic misuse or illegal trade in puja metal cannot be ruled out.
This incident comes as yet another black mark on the Chambaghat crematorium’s credibility. Earlier, a living woman was shockingly issued a death certificate from this very facility — a bureaucratic nightmare that only came to light after protests. During the COVID-19 lockdown, one family was handed the wrong body, leading to a horrifying discovery at the pyre itself.
These repeated failures expose a harsh truth: systems meant to uphold dignity at life’s final exit are collapsing under negligence. With no CCTV surveillance, no staff accountability, and open access to lockers that hold the most sacred elements of human memory, public faith is hanging by a thread.
Solan residents say this isn’t just a crime — it is a moral collapse. The sentiment is loud: if a person’s last remains are not protected, what value does the system place on life at all?
The administration now faces a test — not of paperwork, but of conscience. Ensuring justice, security, and respect at crematoriums is not just a civic duty; it is the last honor society owes to every human being.
HimachalScape will continue to follow the investigation into what has become one of the most painful breaches of dignity in recent memory.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
