Documents & practical guidance
How long can a dead body be kept?
At home, in a freezer box, in a hospital mortuary, and for travel - how long each allows, and what to arrange if the family needs more time.
- Official procedure
- Read it in a few minutes
One less thing to work out alone.
The short answer
Without cooling, a body can be kept at home for only a few hours, and less in summer heat. With a freezer box running continuously, two to three days is normal and safe. A government hospital mortuary usually keeps a body free for the first 24 to 48 hours and longer if asked; private hospitals charge daily from the start. Beyond a few days, or if the body has to travel by air, embalming is the better option.
Price
The full price, up front.
One price covers the unit, delivery, setup and collection. Nothing is added when it is picked up.
- 24 hours ₹4,500 All inclusive
- 48 hours ₹8,500 All inclusive
- 7 days ₹24,000 All inclusive
Included in every price
- The freezer unit
- Delivery to your address
- Setup by our crew
- Collection and sanitisation afterwards
Longer than a slab? Extra hours are charged in proportion, with no penalty for extending.
GST extra as applicable. Pay when the unit is collected, by cash, UPI or card. The price for your address and dates is confirmed on the call before dispatch.
Prices updated 25 Sep 2026
Call to book · +91 88266 77921The family decides; the hospital mortuary if the body is there
A few hours without cooling; two to three days with a freezer box
Government mortuaries are free for the first 24-48 hours; private hospitals charge daily
Start here
What to do,
in order.
Work down the list. Each step assumes only that the one above it is done.
-
In the first few hours
Keep the room as cool as possible and the body undisturbed. Without cooling, a body should not wait more than a few hours, and less in summer. If relatives are travelling or the cremation is the next day, arrange cooling now rather than later.
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If the family needs a day or more
A freezer box at home keeps the body for two to three days with the unit running continuously. It is delivered, set up and collected; tell the supplier the floor and whether there is a lift. Ours is ₹4,500 for 24 hours, all included.
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If the body is in hospital
Government hospital mortuaries usually store a body free for the first 24 to 48 hours and can hold it longer on request. Private hospitals charge a daily storage fee from the outset, so bringing the body home with a freezer box is often cheaper past a day.
-
For several days, or for travel
If the wait will run to many days, or the body must travel by air, embalming is needed. Airlines and receiving countries usually ask for an embalming certificate.
A little clarity
Common questions
If something here is still unclear, call us - someone answers at any hour.
How long can a dead body be kept at home without a freezer?
How long can a dead body be kept in a freezer box?
How long can a body be kept in a hospital mortuary?
Does the body need embalming for a train or flight?
Where to go next
Related reading.
The other steps families usually need around this one.
If you would rather not do this yourself
We handle the paperwork.
It is part of every arrangement we make - the registrations, the certificates and the queueing. Ask us what is involved in your case.