Kin await NRI’S body who died in transit at Shanghai
CHANDIGARH: Eighteen days after a Kapurthala native and US citizen Jagir Singh, 50, died in Shanghai, China, while flying from California to New Delhi, his body is yet to reach India. The Chinese authorities had promised his wife Paramjit Kaur, who was travelling along when Jagir was declared dead in the Chinese city, that the body will be sent to India soon.
The family was taking a China Eastern Airlines flight when Jagbir developed some heart problem and died. His wife said there was no response from airport authorities or the airlines on when will the body each India.
“On January 16 my husband developed a heart problem two hours before we touchdown at Shanghai. On landing, he was declared dead even as the flight crew tried to revive him. As the plane stopped for two hours, my husband’s body was taken to a hospital in Shanghai and after some paperwork, I was promised by the Chinese airport authorities that the body will be sent to
New Delhi in a day or two,” said Kaur, who had moved to the US with her husband 18 years ago and acquired citizenship eight years ago. She said several e-mails sent to different agencies in China and US embassy in Delhi have evoked no response. The couple belonged to Badli village in Jalandhar district and she is staying at her parents’ home in Mehadpur village.
Jagir’s son Jaspreet Singh said he, along with his parents and sister, came to Punjab for his sister’s wedding fixed for February 7. “We are left with no option but to postpone the wedding; cremation has not been done,” he added.
Jaspreet and his mother have procured Chinese visa to bring back the body. “Chinese authorities advised us not to travel there as everything is shut from January 23 to Feb 2 due to new year holidays. I don’t want to risk my son’s life by sending him to China amid coronavirus scare,” said Paramjit.