The German tourists who were killed in an accident at an unmanned level crossing at Poopalikavu in Alappuzha district were cremated at the Santhikavadom in the city on Thursday.
The bodies of Manfred Herbert Gustav Rudolf Hoepfner, 54, and his wife, Katrin-Susanne Hoepfner, were cremated at 5.30 p.m. at the electric crematorium at the Shanthikavadom.
A family friend of the Germans, Herbert Andrews Ebberg, who arrived from Germany on Wednesday was present along with Director of Tourism M. Sivasankar, Chairman of the KTDC Cherian Philip, tourism officials, representatives of the tourism fraternity and city corporation officials.
The decision to cremate the bodies was taken by Mr. Ebberg, who also heads a trust set up to look after their two adopted children.
Mr. Ebberg had also given a request to the Secretary of the City Corporation seeking permission to cremate the bodies in the capital.
The adopted children, who are in a resort at Marari, were not present.
The representative of the German consulate and Director of Goethe Centrum Syed Ibrahim supervised the arrangements.
Mr. Sivasankar placed a wreath on behalf of Kerala Tourism and Additional Private Secretary C.M. Raveendran on behalf of Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
The decision to cremate the bodies in the capital was taken following a snag to the electric crematorium in Kochi.
The ashes will be taken to Germany by Mr. Ebberg. The adopted children will also fly back on Saturday from Kochi.
