Social service organisation Satta Nanban Iyakkam is spreading awareness on the economic advantages of transporting bodies to distant destinations on trains.
According to senior functionary of the Iyakkam Suba Karthikeyan, transporting mortal remains by rail at reasonable costs would spare the affected family of financial strain at a critical juncture. Currently, it was quite expensive to transport bodies by ambulances to distant destinations, he said.
The body must be embalmed in a sealed coffin box, and a medical certificate stating that the deceased had not died of infectious disease must be produced to the Railways.
A family member or representative could accompany the coffin. The documents to be produced encompass death certificate, police no-objection certificate (NOC) in case of unnatural death, embalming certificate, photo identity of the deceased (Aadhaar/ passport/ driving licence) and the receiver’s contact details and address at destination.
The body should reach the station two hours before departure of the train, he said.
