'Extreme heavy, above 100 kg': IndiGo’s elephant sticker on coffin leaves social media divided on privacy and care

An unusual image of a coffin carrying human remains has been circulating on social media.

The photo, shared on X, shows a neatly packed coffin with a sticker reading “Human Remain” and a text overlay stating “Delhi to Patna dead body by air.” Another sticker on the coffin noted “Extreme Heavy above 100kg.”

The shipment, handled by an agency specialising in the transportation of human remains, also included attached documents and a passport. The stickers represented the airline managing the transport – IndiGo.

The X post accompanying the photo read: “Might sound silly but @IndiGo6E, for Human Remain cargo shipment, you might want to change the ‘Extreme Heavy’ sticker with an elephant on it. Just for the respect of the one who has departed.” The video was also shared on Instagram by the agency.

The post has garnered over 30,000 views, prompting reactions from netizens. Many clarified that the stickers are a standard practice to ensure safety and clarity, not a sign of disrespect to the deceased.

One user commented: “What a blatant breach of privacy for the departed and their family with AWB visible and searchable. Your handlers and ground agents need to know Data Protection rules and be taken to task.”

Another wrote: “The elephant icon is a universal symbol highlighting heavy weight so handlers can manage it carefully. Nothing disrespectful—it helps staff understand that more care is needed.”

A third user added: “Labeling and handling symbols are standard practice globally when transporting human remains. It’s about safety and clarity, not disrespect. Many handlers cannot read English, so symbols help them understand instructions.”

A third reply read, "Labeling and handling symbols are standard practice when transporting human remains globally. It’s not about disrespect, it’s about safety and clarity. Handlers are not very educated to read English but they understand the symbols (sic)."

"There is no sin in this. It is better to let the guys doing the lifting know that they may need more guys for the remains. It does not harm the departed soul anyway. Yes the person who posted this breached the privacy of the family. RIP to the departed souls. OM Shanti (sic)," another reply read.

An X user wrote, "i don't think a cadaver is a regular shipment on flights. secondly, the elephant sticker is meant to indicate to the staff to lift with care without blowing their backs out. not for public consumption anyway (sic)."

"Man, do you even have a job. Really, this is what you've stooped down to. Aren't the loaders most likely illiterate and isn't elephant mark an easy way to identify that more effort is expected in handling? How is it disrespecting 2 the deceased. But I guess it takes wit to get it (sic)," another X user wrote.