Remains of crash scattered initially at retreats (7)

I believe the answer is:

ashrams

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'retreats' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'remains of crash scattered initially' is the wordplay.
'remains of' becomes 'ash' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'crash' becomes 'ram' (synonyms).
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'scattered' is 's'.
'ash'+'ram'+'s'='ASHRAMS'

'at' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ashrams that I've seen before include "Hindu places of religious retreat" , "Retreats" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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