IIT Ropar invents mobile cremation cart which reduces wood usage

In response to the increasing number of Covid-19 related deaths, the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar has developed an eco-friendly cremation cart with stainless steel insulation to prevent heat loss and reduce wood usage.

According to a university press release issued on Thursday, the cart was produced in partnership with Cheema Boilers Limited.

@iitrpr thanks @PIB_India for mentioning our research towards helping India during these tough times. https://t.co/n25crkjQwp

— IIT Ropar (@iitrpr) May 13, 2021

Both sides of the cart have stainless steel ash trays for quick ash removal. The cart has combustion air for main and secondary hot air systems. According to Harpreet Singh, Dean, IIT Ropar, the disposal is done in 12 hours, including cooling, as opposed to 48 hours.

It operates at a temperature of over 1000°C, ensuring maximum sterilisation. In both sides of the cart, stainless steel insulation prevents heat loss and reduces wood usage.

Harjinder Singh Cheema, Managing Director of Cheema Boilers Ltd said, "We are providing a simplest and cheapest way of cremation, which can be performed within half of wood required now and can reduce the carbon footprint by half."

Poor families often struggle to get organise a funeral due to the high costs of wood which goesup to Rs 2500. They then eventually end up trying to dispose of partly burned remains, or even entire corpses, in ponds. The cart has wheels which can be easily moved from one location to another.