Business of last rites: Private operators charge as much as ₹30,000

New helpline launched by agencies hopes to tackle this and the problem of queues

Relatives of a 57-year-old man, who died of COVID-19 at St. John’s Hospital on Wednesday, were shattered when just a few hours later, another family member died in a road accident on the outskirts of the city. However, a helpline, launched that day itself by the BBMP and the district administration, for bereaved families came to their aid. The helpline team not only arranged for an ambulance to ferry the body but also ensured that the deceased were cremated as members of the family (names withheld on request) could not be physically present.