Couple on noble mission to cremate unclaimed bodies

Bhubaneswar: In yeoman’s service to ensure dignity to the deceased, a 49-year-old autorickshaw driver and his wife, residents of Old Town here, have been diligently tracing and collecting unclaimed bodies in and around the capital city and performing their last rites for over a decade.
Pradeep Prusty and his wife, Madhusmita (39), a nurse, along with a dedicated group of volunteers, have cremated over 6,000 bodies since embarking upon this compassionate endeavour in 2011.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when fear and uncertainty gripped people, leading family members to abandon the bodies of their loved ones, the couple stepped forward, taking on the task of giving a dignified farewell to the deceased.
Their selfless efforts extended to the Bahanaga triple train tragedy in Balasore last year, where they played a crucial role in the cremation of 28 unclaimed bodies in Bharatpur. Pradeep found his calling driven by the profound impact of his mother’s death when he was a child.
“I was a child when my mother was killed on the railway tracks. It took three days to locate her body. From that moment, my sister and I embarked on this path of social service, initially by assisting patients at the municipal hospital in Old Town. We helped them in getting the right treatment,” Pradeep recounted.
Madhusmita’s unwavering support came when Pradeep suffered a leg injury while carrying a body near Kalpana area. “My wife recognised the challenges I faced and made the selfless decision to leave her job to assist me in this noble cause. She began helping me with the unclaimed bodies,” Pradeep said.
Madhusmita highlighted the plight of those who are unable to perform the last rites of their loved ones. “We undertake the responsibility to pay respect to the deceased, offering assistance to those who express their inability to conduct the last rites,” she said.
Initially, Pradeep transported the bodies using his auto-rickhshaw. But as their work expanded, they acquired a second-hand minivan. “Through the collective efforts and contributions of our volunteers, we have now purchased a larger van specifically for the transportation of the bodies,” Pradeep said. Pradeep and Madhusmita now operate the Pradeep Seva Trust, which has 70 active members. They receive daily one or two calls requesting their assistance in collecting the unclaimed bodies and performing the last rites.
“While numerous organisations engage in commendable work, such as distributing food and clothes, we felt compelled to pursue a different path. Although my mother’s death served as a catalyst, it is the hardship we witness others endure that propel us forward in this endeavour,” Pradeep said.
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