New Delhi, April 29,2020: Three days after the Bureau of Immigration refused to off-load mortal remains of three Indian nationals who died of reasons other than Covid-19, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued fresh guidelines for importation of human remains related with coronavirus.

On April 24, family members who waited outside New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for hours, to receive the remains of expats Jagsir Singh, Sanjeev Kumar and Kamlesh Bhatt were asked to go back home.

One of the victims had died in a car accident, the other two suffered heart attacks. But despite appeals from the Indian Embassy and airline officials that they were not COVID-19 patients, officials refused to hand them over to their families, who had driven down from Uttarakhand and Punjab despite lockdown restrictions.

The three bodies were sent back to the UAE by immigration authorities.

Following investigation into this issue, fresh orders were issued making it clear that non-Covid deaths of Indian nationals on foreign soil would be treated as was done in the past, while strict regulations and procedures have to be followed for Covid-19 deaths.

After new guidelines were issued, the mortal remains of the three returned to India and were handed over to the respective families on April 27.

“It was only last evening [April 26] after fresh orders from the MHA that procedures were carried out for the bodies to be sent back last night and handed over this morning[April 27] to the relatives,” said a source.

Speaking to reporters, Indian ambassador to UAE Pavan Kapoor said, “I am just very relieved that the mortal remains have finally been handed over to the grieving families.”

What are new guidelines for bringing back human remains?

The new guidelines that have been shared with all airports and Indian missions recommend against sending of any “human remains” of “confirmed/suspected” Covid-19 cases.

Importation of Human Remains of Confirmed/Suspected Covid -19 cases:

“The importation of the human remains of confirmed/suspected Covid 19 case into India is not recommended,” the guidelines read.

However, in case such a body arrives in India, the MHA has laid out procedures to handle the human remains. “In case human remains of the suspected/confirmed case of Covid-19 arrive at Indian airports, the following procedures shall be carried out by the concerned Airport Health Officer (APHO):
Documents to be inspected/examined. Airlines to submit the following documents at least 48 hrs prior to importation of any human remains for verification by APHO:

a) Death certificate mentioning the cause of death as confirmed Covid -19/suspected Covid-19.
b) No objection certificate (NOC) for the transportation of human remains of the deceased issued by the Indian Embassies/High Commissions/Consulates.
c) Embalming certificate issued by an authorised agency.
d) Cancelled copy of passport
e) Certificate of packaging of Human Remains as per WHO guidelines”, say the guidelines.
Also, packaging and examination of packaging of the mortal remains has to be done as per Indian Aircraft Rules 1954 and WHO guidelines.
“Human Remains should be packed as per WHO guidelines and a certificate to this effect may be given to APHO during clearance of the human remains”, the MHA guidelines specify.

 

 

source: India Today