Disposition of a U.S. Citizen’s Remains in India

Last Updated 11 June 2010

Maximum Period Before Burial

Local regulations require that the deceased must be cremated, buried or embalmed preferably within 24 hours of the death.  Only embalmed remains can be held in cold storage until further instructions are received from the next of kin for consignment of the remains. There is no fee by the mortuary for storage of remains for a reasonable period of time.

Embalming

Embalming is only required when remains are to be exported, not for local burial.  Embalming facilities are available in two places in New Delhi - All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Lady Hardinge Medical College and hospital.  Embalming procedures can only commence with permission from local authorities.   However, the Embassy has rarely, if ever, experienced any difficulty or delay caused by the absence of the local authorities when the casket is actually sealed.  The local customs and health department officials are cooperative in such emergencies.  Delays are encountered when deaths occur outside of regular business hours, when the death occurs in a place other than a hospital or when there is no medical attendant present.

Cremation

In India open air cremation is common. The deceased is placed atop a funeral bier, usually adjacent to moving water, in full view of loved ones. Ashes may be disposed of immediately following cremation. The modern process of cremation occurs in a crematory (or crematorium), consisting of one or more cremator furnaces or cremation retorts for the ashes.  A crematorium may be part of chapel or a funeral home, or a service offered by a cemetery. Modern cremator fuels include natural gas and propane.  These cremators have adjustable control systems that monitor the furnace during cremation.  A cremation furnace is not designed to cremate more than one body at a time.  Cremated remains are returned to the next of kin in a rectangular container, contained within a further cardboard box or in an urn, if the family had already purchased one.  An official certificate of cremation prepared under the authority of the crematorium accompanies the remains.  If the funeral director is authorized by the family to bury or submerge the remains a permit for the local disposition of remains must remain with the cremated remains.  Regulations regarding this may vary with locality.

Caskets and Containers

When the body of the deceased person is to be transported out of the country, the body is first embalmed and prepared for shipment.  The usual procedure is to place the embalmed remains in a zinc coffin within a wooden coffin, which is finally placed in a suitable packing case.  The cost varies with the quality of material used.  Export quality caskets and shipping containers, which meet the requirements, are available for shipment out of the country.

Export of Remains

Remains may be exported when fully embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed container. 

Human remains:  To export remains, the following documents are required:

• A death certificate or Post-mortem report (which does not have to show cause of death);
• Embalming certificate issued by the doctor;
• Export authorization issued by the Health Officer, Department of Health;
• Consular Mortuary Certificate issued by the Consular Officer;
• Affidavit by the undertaker attesting to contents, the embalming and the hermetical sealing of the casket.

Human Ashes:  To export ashes, the following documents are required:

• Cremation certificate issued by the crematorium;
• Official death certificate;
• Consular mortuary certificate issued by the consular officer (required by the airlines).

Costs  

The estimated charges shown below are based on U.S. Embassy exchange rate. All costs are approximate and are based on quotations received from the undertaker.

Local burial in cemetery: Estimated local burial costs include land charges, a masonry grave liner, a coffin prepared to regulation specifications, legal documentation and undertaker fees.        $810          
 
Cremation and local burial: Estimated cremation costs include transportation of remains to the crematorium facilities, land charges, the casket, use of a hearse, cremation/burial fees, funeral director’s fees, the cemetery plot, and the container for ashes.   $700

Cremation and shipment of ashes by air to U.S. Estimated cost includes casket, use of a hearse, crematorium charges, container of ashes and undertaker fees.  Air shipment charges for cremated ashes are not included; the cost is calculated as per airway bill and destination.   $700

Embalming and shipment of remains by air to the U.S. Price includes embalming, necessary packing cases (coffin Box, inner zinc box and outer packing case) sealing, labor, legal documentation, local transportation and charges of the undertaker.   $1465

In addition to the cost indicated above, the following are the air shipment estimates for 80 kilos from New Delhi to:

• East Coast (New York)        $3865
• West Coast (Los Angeles)   $4320

NOTE: All prices quoted above are estimated shipping costs only and may be subject to change. In case of deaths outside New Delhi there would be an additional cost of transporting the body from the place of death to Delhi.

Exhumation

Bodies may be exhumed provided the required permits are obtained from the local magistrate. A statement is required to accompany the request for exhumation to indicate if the remains are being exhumed for reburial or cremation. 

Autopsy

In India Autopsies, also known as postmortems or postmortem examinations, may be performed at the request of the authorities in cases of unexplained and suspicious deaths or where a physician did not attend the death. In other circumstances post-mortem examination may be performed only with the consent of the deceased's family or with permission granted by the person himself before death. Generally, an autopsy is only done when there is some cause of doubt as to the cause of death, although the family of the deceased can always request an autopsy even if the hospital doesn't think it necessary. The time taken to establish the medical cause of death may take up to 26 weeks and sometimes longer.  
 
Undertakers
 
Morgan Funeral Services Pvt. Ltd.
Indian Christian Cemetery
Nehru Bazar, Paharganj
New Delhi 110055 (India)
Tel: 91-011-2358-5710
Fax: 91-011-2358-5617
 
P.S. Funeral & Ambulance Services Pvt. Ltd.
224, 1st Floor, AIIMS
Humayunpur, Safdarjung Enclave
New Delhi – 110029
Mobile:  011-91-9350840858 

Danny Michael Pinto
13, Samrat Bldg., Opposite Victoria Church
L.J. Road
Mahim, Mumbai  400016
Tel:  91-022-2430-8569  or 91-022-2437-3933
Mobile: 011-91-98323206572
Email: mprepatriations@yahoo.com

John Pinto International P. Ltd - Undertaker
Mobile: 011-91-9820239409 or 011-91-9869433609
Email: johnpintointl@yahoo.co.in