No Cremation Ground, No Road: Valsad Villagers Struggle to Carry Bodies for Last Rites

 The ground reality of development in Kelavni village of Dharampur taluka, Valsad district, has come under scrutiny after villagers struggled to transport a woman’s body for her last rites due to poor road connectivity and a damaged causeway over the Lavri River. The tractor carrying the body reportedly got stuck while crossing the causeway, and a video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

Kelavni does not have a proper cremation ground, forcing residents to perform last rites in an open area. The approach road is also in poor condition, while the causeway connecting Shiv Faliya and Padvi Faliya, damaged by erosion last year, is still awaiting proper repairs.

Woman’s Body Transported By Tractor

Ramilaben, 52, a resident of Khori Faliya in Kelavni, died on September 9. She was a mother of two sons and a daughter. 

Following her death, family members and villagers had to take her body to an open area near the Lavri River, close to Shiv Faliya, for the last rites.

With no proper road leading to the site, the body was transported on a tractor. However, while crossing the damaged river causeway, the tractor got stuck, creating further difficulties for the grieving family.

A video of the incident later surfaced on social media, highlighting the difficult conditions faced by residents.

Damaged Causeway Still Awaits Repairs

The causeway connecting Shiv Faliya and Padvi Faliya was damaged by erosion last year but has still not been properly repaired.

The road from the main road to the causeway is also reportedly in extremely poor condition. Beyond the causeway, there is no proper route to reach the area where villagers perform last rites.

The poor connectivity affects not only funeral arrangements but also the daily movement of residents in the village.

No Proper Cremation Ground In Kelavni

Kelavni does not have a dedicated cremation ground. Residents have been forced to use an open area near the Lavri River for performing last rites.

The lack of a proper facility, combined with poor road access, has made it difficult for families to transport the bodies of their loved ones to the cremation site.

The situation has also raised concerns over the availability of basic infrastructure in the tribal village.

Government Development Claims Face Questions

The incident has exposed a stark gap between the government’s claims of taking development to the last person and the ground reality in Kelavni.

Poor roads continue to affect the daily movement of residents, while the village still lacks basic facilities needed to carry out last rites with dignity. Despite these problems persisting for years, the issues remain unresolved, raising serious questions about the administration’s response and functioning.

The condition of the causeway and the absence of a proper cremation ground have further highlighted the infrastructure challenges faced by villagers.

‘Cremation Ground Could Not Be Built Due To Lack Of Land’: Sarpanch

Kelavni village sarpanch Nareshbhai Jayesh Pawar said the land identified for a cremation ground is privately owned and suitable land is not available to develop the facility.

He said the lack of land has also created difficulties in constructing an access road to the proposed cremation site. As a result, villagers continue to perform last rites in an open area.

The viral video of the tractor getting stuck while carrying Ramilaben’s body has once again brought Kelavni’s long-standing infrastructure problems into focus.