An incident in Amalner, Jalgaon district, draws public criticism after an unclaimed body is reported to have been transported for cremation in a garbage collection vehicle instead of a hearse. According to reports, the body was found about three days earlier and kept at a rural hospital while police awaited inquiries. With no one coming forward, the body was cremated on Friday afternoon following a post-mortem.
Videos and photos shared on social media show the body being carried in a bell-ringing garbage truck, prompting outrage among residents and questions about the functioning of the Amalner Municipal Council. The municipality has said the responsibility lies with the waste collection contractor.
Reports also cite the council’s 2024-25 agreement with the private contractor, which reportedly treats tasks for unclaimed bodies and disposal of dead animals separately and includes a provision requiring separate vehicles for such duties. Critics argue this makes use of a garbage truck for the deceased inconsistent with the contract’s requirements.