Now, the families of those who die in Andhra’s government hospitals, can avail a free of cost funeral car service to shift the mortal remains of their loved ones to their house, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launching ‘Mahaprasthanam’

“Majority of the people who are dying in the government hospitals would be shifted through special vehicles organised by the State government. Our main intention of this program is to reduce the burden of shifting the dead bodies for those families who are already in a deep loss of losing their dear ones,” Minister of Health, Kamineni Srinivas Rao told The New Indian Express.

Nearly 50 vehicles are expected to be engaged in transporting bodies in 13 districts.

During the launch, Naidu said that the service would be useful for poor, as private vehicles charged between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 for the task, which was not affordable to many people.

The vehicle will reportedly be equipped with air conditioning, to ensure that the bodies are shifted to their respective houses in a dignified manner.

According to The Hindu, the body would be garlanded before sending it to the home of the deceased, by the acting superintendent of the hospital.

The government has estimated an expense of Rs 8 crore per annum on this service.

Meanwhile, 50 vehicles have been launched on an experimental basis under the programme on Tuesday, with officials promising that the service will be extended to more hospitals at the rate of “four or five” a day.

Kamineni Srinivas Rao said that more vehicles would be made available in the next two months, after the state procures them.