Stressed Christian cemeteries, with shrinking space and crowding of graves can take a leaf out of the Aizawl book.

Aizawl’s Chaltlang neighbourhood inaugurated its first ‘modern multi-storey concrete cemetery’, the first of its kind in Mizoram to cope with the rising graveyard crisis.

The five-storey cemetery which houses at least 163 crypts (ready-made tombs) was inaugurated by chief minister Zoramthanga on Saturday, Chaltlang branch of YMA president Hnamhlunchhunga said on Sunday.

He said the purpose was to cater to the needs of the people and to alleviate the rising graveyard crisis caused by increasing population.

The Young Mizo Association (YMA) is the largest and most comprehensive non-profit, secular and nongovernmental organisation of the Mizo people. It was established on 15 June 1935, originally as the Young Lushai Association (YLA), which was later replaced with the “Young Mizo Association” in 1947.

The YMA president stated that the new built cemetery would also be more environmental friendly as it would eliminate subsidence of the graveyard during the rainy season.

According to the leader, on an average at least 55 to 60 people died every year in Chaltlang and as many as 63 people have been buried in Chaltlang cemetery last year.

Zoramthanga congratulated Chaltlang neighbourhood for having developed the first high-rise cemetery in the State.

He said the state capital has began facing graveyard shortage due to increase in population triggered by migration from rural areas.

He said that subsidence of graveyards were witnessed on several occasion in the state capital during rainy season due to loose soil as dead bodies were buried by digging underground.

He expressed hope that the new multi-storey graveyard will serve its purpose and benefit the people.

The multi-storey graveyard was built under the initiative of Chaltlang YMA with funding from Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Department of the State Government.

The construction of Rs 29.73 lakh project began in January 2019 and was completed in October that year.

The new cemetery has five storeys and is 80 feet tall and 16 feet wide.

There are 27 graves in each storey and each grave has a pipe connected to a drain in the ground.

Besides that main high-rise cemetery, another multi-crypt concrete graveyard which houses 28 graves has also been built.

  Aizawl, Northeast, Young Mizo Association