This story is from August 31, 2019

Dignity for the dead: Palghar railway station first in India to get AC coffin

In 2017, the Palghar railway police, as per procedure, buried an unidentified man who died in a railway accident after waiting for 10 days for the family to turn up. A fortnight later, the family reached Palghar station to claim the body, and the cops had to exhume the highly decomposed remains.
Dignity for the dead: Palghar railway station first in India to get AC coffin
The AC coffin, which runs on power, can preserve a body for a fortnight
MUMBAI: In 2017, the Palghar railway police, as per procedure, buried an unidentified man who died in a railway accident after waiting for 10 days for the family to turn up. A fortnight later, the family reached Palghar station to claim the body, and the cops had to exhume the highly decomposed remains.
It was this incident that spurred railway activist Bhavesh Patel to launch the 'dignity for the dead' initiative, which resulted in Palghar railway police station becoming the first in the country to get an AC coffin to preserve accident victims' bodies so that their families can give them a dignified burial or cremation.

Bought for Rs 85,000, the AC coffin, that runs on electricity, can preserve a body at 4 degrees Celsius for at least 15 days.
The Palghar railway police jurisdiction covers nine stations on the western line-between Saphale Road to Bordi. "This year, so far, 76 bodies have been brought to Palghar station, of which more than 50% are still unclaimed. Most of the victims either fell from or were hit by an outstation train so it is difficult to trace their families," said senior inspector Anil Sonawane of Palghar railway police. "We usually keep an unclaimed body for 10 days and then bury it as there's hardly any space in the morgue."
Borivli resident Patel told TOI, "Earlier this month, when I was being felicitated by the Rotary Club of Mumbai South, I made a presentation about the deplorable scenario on Mumbai suburban railway and the hardships faced by the victims' relatives, the railway staff and police when dealing with unclaimed bodies." He said the audience got emotional and many of them immediately pledged their contribution to the cause. In addition to the AC coffin, he also used the funds to procure wheelchairs, stretchers, searchlights, ropes, ladder and radium jackets for Palghar station.

Patel said that he will now focus on providing AC coffins to all railway police stations in Mumbai and nearby areas.
After Palghar, Patel said, they will now provide AC coffins to Karjat and Panvel railway police stations where medical facilities and the morgue are inadequate. "Social workers from our organisation, Humanity, help provide support to those injured in railway accidents and also help trace the relatives of dead victims," he added.
Read report in Bengali
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