KOCHI: The Mortal remains of the five Keralites who were killed after their bus plunged into a gorge in central Kenya, was brought to the Kochi airport on Sunday morning. Accompanied by relatives, the mortal remains were transferred to ambulances stationed at the international terminal arrivals gate, without stopping for public viewing, and taken to their respective home towns in Muvattupuzha, Tiruvalla and Palakkad.
Industries Minister P Rajeeve, Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) GM Rashmi T and several other officials and dignitaries, who were at the airport, paid last respects to the deceased inside the ambulances.
The mortal remains of Jasna Makkar, 29, and her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Roohi Mehrin from Muvattupuzha, Riya Ann, 41, and her daughter Tyra Rodrigues, 7, from Mannur in Palakkad, and Geetha Shoji Isaac, 58, from Tiruvalla, were brought on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha around 9.15 am. The bodies were handed to the authorities concerned and the ambulances carrying them left the airport by 10.30 am, said a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer
“Some of the other passengers, including relatives of the deceased who suffered minor injuries in the accident that involved a total of 28 tourists, also arrived on the same flight,” he said.
A NORKA official said, “The relatives and friends, still in shock and unsure of how to respond, were eager to leave quickly for their home towns, where many more awaited to pay their final respects,” said the official.
Last rites of Jasna, Riya and their daughters were held on Sunday. The burial of Geetha will be held on Tuesday.
Repatriation of bodies
Repatriation of the bodies was done as per the official procedures of NORKA Roots, with state officials, including Industries Minister P Rajeeve, present to receive the mortal remains. Rajeeve also offered condolences to the injured and the bereaved family members who arrived on the flight