<p>Civil defence teams have been deployed at crematoria in the city in a bid to tackle profiteering by private ambulance services ferrying bodies.</p>.<p>Sources in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said that a total of 100 civil defence personnel has been deployed across the crematoria in Bengaluru to quash exorbitantly high prices being charged by private ambulances to bring in bodies.</p>.<p>“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,” a BBMP source said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/covid-19-karnataka-government-to-immerse-ashes-of-cremated-bodies-988680.html" target="_blank">Covid: Karnataka govt worried about unclaimed 'ashes'</a></strong></p>.<p>However, Dr P R S Chetan, Additional Chief Commanding Officer (HQ & Ops), Civil Defence, said these personnel would be engaged in more than just controlling ambulances.</p>.<p>“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,” Dr Chetan said.</p>.<p>He pointed out that civil defence teams not only help with the necessary documentation and carry out the final rituals, but have been also helping family members to have a last glimpse by connecting them through video calls.</p>.<p>At least four to six such cremations are done daily, Dr Chetan added. </p>.<p><strong>Will help with paperwork </strong></p>.<p>“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.</p>.<p>"We have had to intervene with police and others to get the documentation processed,” Dr Chetan added.</p>
<p>Civil defence teams have been deployed at crematoria in the city in a bid to tackle profiteering by private ambulance services ferrying bodies.</p>.<p>Sources in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said that a total of 100 civil defence personnel has been deployed across the crematoria in Bengaluru to quash exorbitantly high prices being charged by private ambulances to bring in bodies.</p>.<p>“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,” a BBMP source said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/covid-19-karnataka-government-to-immerse-ashes-of-cremated-bodies-988680.html" target="_blank">Covid: Karnataka govt worried about unclaimed 'ashes'</a></strong></p>.<p>However, Dr P R S Chetan, Additional Chief Commanding Officer (HQ & Ops), Civil Defence, said these personnel would be engaged in more than just controlling ambulances.</p>.<p>“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,” Dr Chetan said.</p>.<p>He pointed out that civil defence teams not only help with the necessary documentation and carry out the final rituals, but have been also helping family members to have a last glimpse by connecting them through video calls.</p>.<p>At least four to six such cremations are done daily, Dr Chetan added. </p>.<p><strong>Will help with paperwork </strong></p>.<p>“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.</p>.<p>"We have had to intervene with police and others to get the documentation processed,” Dr Chetan added.</p>
