In times of Covid, funeral business offers package deals for dead

疫情期间，印度殡葬业为死者提供一条龙服务

HYDERABAD: Cremating the dead in times of Covid has become a lucrative business. With the mortality rate on a steady rise, a couple of corporate-styled funeral services’ firms – apart from local pandits and touts – are seen rolling out special packages on last rites, charging anywhere between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000 per ceremony.

海得拉巴：在新冠肺炎疫情期间，火化已成为一项有利可图的业务。随着死亡率的稳步上升，葬礼服务公司推出了临终仪式的特别套餐，每场仪式收费在3万到3.5万卢比之间。

One of these companies – assuring end-to-end service across seven Indian cities – even has a complete customer support team in place at its headquarters, along with on-ground managers in every city, to handle its ‘orders’.

其中一家公司在7个印度城市提供端到端服务，在总部有一个完整的客户支持团队，每个城市都有现场管理人员处理“订单”。

“We will conduct the entire procedure for you – from picking up the body to arranging a vehicle, booking a slot at the crematorium (in Bansilalpet), organising a pandit and even getting the material required for the rites,” said Sampath Bangaram, city manager of the Bengaluru-based Anthyesti Funeral Services with offices in Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur among others. The package rate for Hyderabad: Rs 32,000.

Sampath Bangaram是班加罗尔Anthyesti殡葬服务公司的城市经理，该公司在金奈、德里、斋浦尔等地都设有办事处，他说：“我们会为客户包办整个过程——从接遗体到安排车辆，在火葬场预订时间，安排一位祭司，以及仪式所需的物品。”海德拉巴的套餐价为3.2万卢比。

Much like many other e-commerce platforms, here too the ‘customer’ is first directed to the firm’s hotline number for registration. Then, based on location, he/she is patched a call with the city coordinator. The payment is made directly to the company’s account.

和其他电商平台一样，先引导“客户”拨打公司的热线号码进行登记。然后，根据地点，客户可以给城市协调员打电话，款项直接打到公司账户。

Funeral Seva Services, though limited to Hyderabad for now, too works on similar lines.

Funeral Seva Services也在从事类似的业务，不过目前仅限于海德拉巴。

It prides itself on offering ‘funeral services at your doorstep’ and has a two different – gold and basic – packages listed on its website. The former, predictably, promises a more elaborate cremation.

该公司标榜提供“家门口的葬礼服务”，并在网站上列出了两种不同的服务套餐——黄金套餐和基本套餐。可以预见的是，前者的火化过程将更加复杂。

While the executive was hesitant to share too many details over telephone when TOI called posing as a client, he said: “We are charging Rs 30,000 for Covid patients... it’s a risky job and getting slots at cremation sites is very difficult with the rush.” On being probed about the packages he added: “Please send us your location, our executive will come there and give you details.”

《印度时报》假装客户打电话，这名高管不愿透露太多细节，他说:“新冠肺炎死者，我们收费3万卢比……这是一项很有风险的工作，在火葬场预定名额非常难。”

在被问及套餐问题时，他补充说:“请把你的位置发给我们，我们的管理人员会过去为你详细介绍。”

Both these organisations said that they have been getting between 6 and 10 calls every day.

这两家公司表示，他们每天都接6到10个电话。

以下是印度时报读者的评论：译者：Jessica.Wu

Sambappa Kalvala

Our finance minister may impose 18 per cent GST

我们的财政部长可能会对此服务征收18%的商品服务税

Aman

Very shameful blunder of joker ruling the country. Disastrous for whole nation.

让一个小丑统治国家，我们犯了非常可耻的错误，对整个国家来说是灾难性的。

johny

If this is lucrative we will soon have Adani Funeral Services (A joint Venture between Adani Group and PMO).

如果这块有利可图，很快就会出现阿达尼葬礼服务公司(阿达尼集团和总理办公室的合资企业)。

P S

Now its a good business to make money out of misery of the people. Where is our ethics and right to call ourselves humanbeing gone????

赚死人钱成了一门生意。我们作为人类的道德到哪里去了????

Sudhi B

Even death has become a business in this age. What a pity!!

在这个时代，赚死人钱也成了一门生意。真遗憾! !

Rajesh Singh

That's India for you. Enjoy.

这就是你们的印度，好好享受吧。

Ayudhya Misra

Making money by any means is justified.

只要能赚钱，用任何方法赚钱都是正当的。

Aditya

The Adanis have not yet come in this business.

阿达尼家族还没有进入这个行业。

Nationalist

This is a good and thriving business. Modi ji has opened opportunities for all. People getting richer under our government.

这是一门兴旺的好生意。莫迪为所有人打开了机会之门。印度人民在政府的统治下，越来越富有了。

TRUTH BE TOLD

These are all bad signs that clearly indicates number of deaths is growing exponentially. We all have to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL. it's just a matter of time before death knocks at our doors.

这些都是不好的迹象，清楚地表明死亡人数正呈指数增长。我们都必须非常小心。死亡来敲门只是时间问题。

P S

BJP should grab this opportunity to increase the volume of PM care fund. At the same time build a big crematorium in the name of Naren modi shouldbe inaugurated with package deal for his supportes. Only 30K for the cremation, if you are Andh Bhakt.

莫迪应该以纳伦的名义建一个大火葬场，为他的支持者提供一条龙服务。如果是印度教徒的话，火葬费用只需要3万。

John Biden

shows the sad state of affairs in our country

这显示了我们国家是多么可悲啊

Arun Sehgal

Modiji's dream of making India heaven is coming true.

莫迪把印度变成天堂的梦想正在实现。

Jasvinder. S. Bindra

Electric cremation is the need of hour.

当前急需推广电力火化

Indian

Now how many of you agree that BJP is the worst party ever ruled in the history of India.

现在有多少人赞同印度人民党是印度历史上统治最糟糕的政党？

Vijay Jain

Ambani/Adani may grab this business too.

安巴尼/阿达尼可能也会抢走这项业务。

Arun Sehgal

Modiji's DREAM COME TRUE

莫迪的梦想实现了

Ali

Finally modi succeeded to create a jobs for millions of people.

最终，莫迪成功为数百万人创造了就业机会

Sujit Kootala

How can you even think of making money out of dead people and their families. Exploiting people at such a vulnerable moment is a shame for the entire country and the system it functions in.

怎么能从死人和他们的家人身上赚钱呢。在这种时候剥削人民，是整个国家及其体 制的耻辱

Quhesobi

Feku, aka Surrender Modi, has turned India into a living hell. Ironically enough, the funeral industry is thriving and flourishing under Feku's so-called Acche Din.

莫迪把印度变成了人间地狱。讽刺的是，在莫迪的统治下，殡葬业蒸蒸日上。