Thick black smoke emanating from the crematorium ground at Diwanman of Vasai West has made life difficult for thousands of local residents, most of whom are senior citizens and have underlying diseases such as chronic heart ailment and asthma.

Avinash Kuse, resident of a nearby housing society, said, “This crematorium ground has no chimney and the thick black smoke from the pyre spreads in the surrounding.” He added that the crematorium, which used to get only one or two bodies a day, has been getting several bodies as all non-COVID bodies from nearby areas are brought here, leading to long queues.