BBMP assigns civil defence teams at crematoria to assess profiteering by ambulances

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has appointed civil teams at the crematoria in Bengaluru as a measure to deal with the profiteering by private ambulance services ferrying bodies.

According to the sources in BBMP, as many as 100 civil defence personnel have been appointed throughout the crematoria in the city to provide services against the extremely high prices quoted by private ambulances to bring the dead bodies.

A BBMP source said, “Some of these private ambulances are charging families between Rs 25,000 to 50,000 to bring bodies to the crematorium. We thought that civil defence teams can stop this profiteering.”

These personnel will be given to monitor additional responsibilities along with controlling the ambulances, said Dr P R S Chetan, Additional Chief Commanding Officer, Civil Defence. Dr Chetan said, “We have also deputed six civil defence personnel to the BBMP’s crematorium helpline control room, which the public can call to request free-of-cost ambulances or death-related assistance.”

He mentioned the civil defence teams will provide assistance with the required documentation and in carrying out final rituals and are also involved in helping the family members by giving them a last glimpse of the loved ones during the crematorium services via video calls.

Dr Chetan further added around 4 to 6 such burials are done regularly.

Regarding the death certificates, Dr Chetan said, “Death certificates are sometimes not available, especially if they have died en route to a hospital. People end up running pillar to post to get the required documentation to be shown to the authorities.”

He added, “We  have had to intervene with police and others to get the documentation processed.”

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