MP man’s body burnt in forest in Erode as family unable to bear ambulance cost

Unable to bear the cost of transporting a man’s body by ambulance to Madhya Pradesh, a group allegedly cremated the body in a forest area of Erode district on Saturday (January 10, 2026).

On Saturday night, the Bargur police and officials of the Chennampatti Forest Range received information about a burnt body found in the forest area between the Karaikadu-Palar check post on the road leading to the Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Karnataka. Police and forest teams rushed to the spot and found that the body had been burnt only a few hours earlier.

Investigation revealed that a group from North India, which had come on a pilgrimage tour in a bus, had allegedly cremated the body at the spot and left. Based on CCTV footage from surveillance cameras in the area, the police proceeded to Karnataka.

On Sunday (January 11), the police traced the bus at the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru and questioned the occupants. During the inquiry, it was revealed that the group belonged to Madhya Pradesh. While visiting a temple in Madurai, a 70-year-old man, identified as Mool Chand Pal, fell ill. Although his wife, Sakothrapal (65), suggested that he be taken to a hospital, he reportedly refused. The man later died while the group was travelling towards Mysuru.

The group was reportedly asked to pay ₹40,000 to transport the body in an ambulance. As they could not arrange the amount, they carried the body in the bus. While passing through the Erode forest area, they decided to cremate the body in the forest.

The police said the family members of the deceased had returned to their native place and informed the authorities that they would appear before the Bargur police after completing the final rites. Further inquiry is under way.