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Bengaluru: Civil Defense Force to dispose off bodies of COVID patients for free

As Covid victim's family were harassed in the past either by charging exorbitant to ferry dead bodies to crematorium or to dispose off the bodies, IAS officers Captain P Manivanna and N Manjunath Prasad have pressed Civil Defense Force team at 15 crematoriums across Bengaluru.

DR PRS Chetan, Additional Commanding officer, Civil Defense Force for Covid told Asianet Newsable that the main purpose is to bring in transparency and to avoid gathering of the crowd at the crematoriums.

"There were incidents of corruption in the ambulance service and also in the cremation of Covid patients' bodies. To avoid all these, under the direction of two IAS officers, 100 Civil Defense Force personnel will monitor crematoriums and ensure a decent send off is given to Covid victims and also to ensure families that their loved one is given a fair goodbye." said Chetan.

Through the helpline, the families are given a time slot after taking in details of the death certificate and Aadhaar card. And a five-minute video call is made to families to show simple last rites and the face of the victim and then cremated. This is to ensure the families are assured that their loved ones are given a decent send-off.

The service is free of cost at present across Bengaluru and later will be extended to other places based on the requirements.