MALAPPURAM: The health officer at Calicut International Airport will convene a meeting of air carrier companies on Monday to clear the confusion over a recent circular from the airport mandating prior permissions for bringing dead bodies from GCC countries.
The decision follows protests from expatriate organisations in the state against government and airport authorities. They alleged a dead body was blocked at Sharjah International Airport after the circular was issued.
Demanding steps to clear the air, Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) functionaries P K Anwar Naha and Ashraf Thamarassery met airport authorities on Monday.
Airport health officer Dr Jalaludheen who issued the circular said he will notify flight companies not to block dead bodies in the airport and only relay information before carrying the body. He said the circular was issued by in late June as per the WHO’s International Health Regulations at points of entry.
“The circular was aimed only at averting possible entry of infectious diseases to the state and was not intended to create difficulties,” said Jalaludheen.
“While the circular mentions information must be conveyed 48 hours before the body is brought to the airport, we are not making it mandatory. We need only a communication prior to a body being brought.”
The health officer also demanded a probe into the incident in which a body was blocked at Sharjah airport.
“We haven’t asked anybody to block dead bodies,” he said, adding clearance was given to three bodies to be carried on Monday and Tuesday.