Jammu: Floods in the Tawi river have devastated Jammu city’s oldest cremation ground, Jogi Gate, washing away the ashes of four recently cremated individuals along with much of its infrastructure and belongings. The management has issued an urgent appeal for public and volunteer support—both manpower and financial—to help rebuild the sacred site, known as Swarag Dhaam.
The cremation ground, home to several ghats, temples, and spaces for meditation and rituals, now lies buried under six to eight feet of silt and debris. Floodwaters damaged cremation sheds, ghats, wood banks, temples, benches, records, vehicles, and other utilities. Even the Tawi-facing wall of the main cremation shed collapsed under the force of the water on August 26.
“We appeal to people and volunteers to help clear the muck and debris and assist in restoring Swarag Dhaam,” said Rakesh Kumar Sharma, general secretary of Seva Samiti. “Financial support is crucial for rebuilding the place.”
Temples dedicated to Shiva, Brahma, Vaishno, and Maha Kali are also buried under the debris. Despite heavy machinery like JCBs being deployed, Sharma stressed that manual labour is urgently required to clear the area.
The tragedy struck while the cremations of Pritam Chand of Hari Nagar, Anil Kumar Puri of Janipur, Veeran Wali of Rehari Colony, and Kiran Bamba of Resham Ghar Colony were underway. Although the management had kept watch over the rising waters, a sudden surge swept away their ashes before families could collect them. Six other urns stored in a locker, however, were saved.
Vinod Sharma, a caretaker, recalled that the cremation shed was also submerged during the 2014 floods, but this year the river swelled 12 feet higher. “I have never seen the river reach such levels,” he said, adding that he could not confirm if ashes had been lost in the 2014 disaster.
