‘Haunted’ Water Supply? Villagers in Muzaffarpur Fear Using Tank Built Inside Crematorium
Muzaffarpur, Bihar, January 17, 2026: A bizarre controversy has emerged under Bihar’s “Har Ghar Nal-Jal” scheme, as a water tank constructed inside a crematorium has left nearly 2,000 villagers reluctant to use the water for drinking or cooking. The tank, built within the Khabra Panchayat’s Ward No. 4 by the PHED department and local representatives, is now supplying water to homes, but villagers are avoiding it due to religious and social concerns.
Residents said that using water sourced from a crematorium—where bodies are cremated—is culturally and religiously unacceptable. They questioned why a sensitive location was chosen when public land was available elsewhere. Villagers allege that the Panchayat and concerned departments decided the site without consulting the local community.
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