Bengaluru’s Only Animal Crematorium Shut for Months

Bengaluru is facing a silent crisis as the city’s only BBMP-run animal crematorium in Sumanahalli has remained non-functional for over two months, leaving pet owners, rescuers, and shelters scrambling for alternatives. The facility is under repair due to a collapsed exhaust pipe, and activists estimate it may take 4–5 months to reopen.

With no affordable public cremation option, people are now forced to bury deceased pets on private farms or in gardens, incurring costs upward of ₹2,000 to ₹10,000—a steep jump from the BBMP’s earlier charges of ₹800 for dogs and ₹300 for cats.

In 2024, BBMP announced plans for new crematoria in Yelahanka and Dasarahalli, but Special Commissioner Vikas Suralkar Kishor has now stated that the focus will shift to multiple smaller crematoria across the city via tenders.

Shelters like Friend for Animal Trust in Yelahanka, which lose 10–20 animals a month, report monthly expenses of ₹30,000–₹40,000 just for burials. “We’re overwhelmed,” says founder Vikash Bafna. Individual cases like Prashanth N., who drove 80 km to bury his pet due to unaffordable city services, underscore the growing distress.

Experts like veterinarian Shahid Wasim advise safe burial practices—such as digging pits three feet deep and using salt as a disinfectant.

Meanwhile, Prani Mitra, a new initiative by Rotary Bangalore Sadashivnagar, aims to find permanent solutions for ethical animal disposal in the city.

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