Process to send mortal remains of Indian killed in Turkey earthquake underway
Ankara (Turkey), February 12: After the mortal remains of an Indian national who was missing in Turkey were found, India's Ambassador to Turkey Virander Paul termed the development as "unfortunate." The official further said that the mortal remains of the only Indian, who went missing and was later found dead in a hotel, are in the process of being sent to his family member in Uttarakhand.
"It is very unfortunate that the only missing Indian national was found dead yesterday. We are in the process of earliest transportation of his mortal remains to India," he said.
Vijay Kumar, a resident of Kotdwar in Uttarakhand, was in Turkey on a business trip when the earthquake struck. His mortal remains were found and identified among the rubble of a Malatya hotel. He had left Kotdwar on 23 January.
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Furthermore, the ambassador stated that the "Indian embassy in Turkey is in direct contact with the victim's family."
The Indian embassy in Turkey is in dialogue with the Turkish government about obtaining clearance and other documentation in order to send the mortal remains via commercial flights as soon as possible.
The Indian Embassy in Turkey announced on Saturday that Kumar's mortal remains had been found.
"We inform with sorrow that the mortal remains of Shri Vijay Kumar, an Indian national missing in Turkiye since the February 6 earthquake, have been found and identified among the debris of a hotel in Malatya, where he was on a business trip," the Embassy tweeted.
Kumar's family members were shocked when they learned the news. They sobbed uncontrollably. Neighbours and family members visited Kumar's Kotdwar home to express their condolences.
Vijay Kumar is survived by his mother, wife, and six-year-old child. He had lost his father about one and a half months back.
- ANI