Villagers Hold Tarpaulin Over Funeral Pyre in Shahapur

Villagers in Katkariwadi, a tribal settlement in Umbharai village of Shahapur taluka, were forced to perform the last rites of gram panchayat committee member Jayabai Mahadu Wagh under a tarpaulin sheet on Tuesday after heavy rain threatened to extinguish her funeral pyre. The incident highlighted the lack of basic infrastructure in the area, where residents carried her body for 1.5 kilometres through mud due to the absence of a proper road or cremation ground.

Wagh belonged to the Katkari settlement in Umbharai, where residents said there is no designated cremation facility. With no shelter available, villagers held tarpaulin and plastic sheets over the pyre in an open field near the village to complete the last rites during downpours.

Road conditions prevented an ambulance from reaching the settlement, leaving family members and neighbours with no option but to carry Wagh's body on their shoulders through a muddy stretch.

According to residents, a demand for a cremation ground in the settlement has been pending for nearly two years. Former Shahapur tehsildar Parmeshwar Kaluse had inspected land for a proposed cremation facility around two years ago and assured locals that the issue would be addressed. However, the promised facility has yet to be built.

The Katkariwadi settlement has a population of around 100 people who rely on open fields or riverbanks to perform final rites. Villagers and social organisations claim that more than 250 villages and hamlets across Shahapur taluka face similar issues due to a lack of funds, land, or basic infrastructure.

Keshav Pawar, a local resident, said villagers are left with no choice during heavy rain but to hold up tarpaulins to carry out cremations. Relative Sunil Wagh added that the lack of proper roads makes it difficult even to bring deceased loved ones back home to the settlement.

Resident Bhadu Vekade also expressed frustration over the ongoing lack of amenities, noting that villagers have no option but to perform last rites in open areas near the river. Locals have urged the administration and elected representatives to urgently provide a permanent road, cremation ground, and basic civic facilities in Katkariwadi.