Malappuram: It has come to light that a racket is operating in the state that illegally embalms the bodies of migrant workers by pocketing significant sums from their families. 

As per the existing rules, only the anatomy department of government hospitals has the authority to perform post-mortem procedures and embalm the bodies of those who died in accidents and other causes. Yet, agencies illegally carry out embalming and issue certificates under the guise of running ambulance services. 

Due to severe staff shortages in many hospitals, staff rarely conducts embalming after 3 p.m. Using this disadvantage, agents lure the deceased's relatives by promising to carry out the procedure so that the family does not have to wait until the next day.

Reportedly, Ernakulam-based agencies are behind this racket. An agent told ‘Mathrubhumi’ that there are 24-hour embalming centres in Ernakulam, Kottayam and Kollam. The agents charge around Rs 30,000, including the airfare that goes up to Rs 9000, to send a body from Manjeri Medical College to West Bengal after the embalming process and issuance of a certificate. 

It remains a mystery how embalming is done in the middle of the night and or the certificate issued by a doctor is handed over to the families. Furthermore, these agents work near most mortuaries in the state. It should be noted that government hospitals charge only Rs 300 for embalming. 

IndiGo Airlines requires the deceased's identity card, death certificate, embalming certificate, police clearance, and coffin certificate for authorization to be carried on a flight. IndiGo Airlines cargo department personnel stated they are unsure whether private hospitals have the authority to issue this certificate. The bodies transferred via Kozhikode airport also carry embalming certificates stamped by the heads of anatomy departments in government hospitals, officials said. 

"It is illegal to touch a corpse that has undergone a post-mortem procedure without the presence of a doctor. In case of the death of migrant workers, the post-mortem and embalming should be done under the supervision of the District Labour Officer. The labour offices have the funds needed for this. Such agents function without the knowledge of these officials," Dr T.P Hitesh Shankar, Forensic Department Head, Manjeri Medical College, said.