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28 March 2024

New crematorium for expatriates in Sharjah

Published
By VM Sathish

The first crematorium for Hindu expatriates will be formally opened in Sharjah next Thursday by the Indian Ambassador MK Lokesh.

YA Rahim, President, Indian Association Sharjah, said the new Dh3 million facility, located opposite the cement factory in Saja Industrial area, was completed with generous contributions from the Indian business community and the Indian Community Welfare Fund.

Indian Consul General Sanjay Verma, Indian business and community leaders will participate in the inauguration.

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, gifted 10 acres of land to the Indian Association Sharjah for the crematorium.

YA Rahim said a second crematorium will be opened later. A crematorium uses the latest state-of-the-art methods to cremate the deceased.

Earlier, Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi had announced that part of the Indian Community Welfare Fund would be utilised for the new crematorium in Sharjah and to upgrade the Abu Dhabi crematorium.

More than 1,300 Indians have reportedly died in the UAE in 2011 and most of the dead are repatriated back home.

Ashraf Palorakunnummel, an Indian social worker who has repatriated more than 150 dead bodies, said, “This month alone, I have repatriated 2 dead bodies of Indian workers. There was also a Morocco woman and a Brit.”