Body of 4-year-old who died of leukaemia awaits repatriation
dubai — As the body of four-yearold Vyshnav Krishnadas lies listless in an Al Ain mortuary, his parents are inconsolable. Krishnadas and wife Divya from Palakkad district of the south Indian state of Kerala have knocked all doors to repatriate the mortal remains of their son. Vyshnav died of leukaemia on Friday at Al Tawam hospital in Al Ain, a close relative told Khaleej Times. “We have been trying all means to repatriate his body in the special flight. His parents and elder sister also want to accompany the body and cremate it as per religious rituals,” said the boy’s uncle Sivadas Cheppilakattil.
“Vyshnav was diagnosed with blood cancer 15 days ago. Until then, everything was fine and he was healthy and happy.” According to him, the boy was admitted in the hospital but his body did not respond to chemotherapy. “His parents are devastated by the sudden death of their son. Now their only wish is to be able to fly home at the earliest. But so far, they have not managed to get seats.”
Sreejith, a volunteer who is closely working with the case, said the Indian government and the missions in the UAE are doing everything possible to ensure that the family will fly home in the next earliest flight.
Several passengers in dire situations, like medical emergency and death of loved ones, are still anxiously waiting for their turn to fly back home.
Waiting to attend wife’s funeral
It is the second day in a row Vijayakumar Kunchan was waiting outside the Dubai airport’s Terminal 2 gate, hoping to secure a seat in the repaDtriation
flight to Kerala. Kunchan’s wife Geetha died of heart attack on Saturday. She was 40. “I could not see my wife one last time. I just want to be there for her funeral at least,” said a sobbing Kunchan. Despite all
the efforts by social workers and consulate officials, Kunchan could not fly on Tuesday.
“We are praying to God that he will make it in the next flight at least. The body is kept in the mortuary. He waited for hours yesterday to fly to Kochi but was heartbroken,” said a relative.
Two more flights to India
Two flights departed from Dubai on Tuesday. The first flight to Kannur took off at 2.45pm with 20 pregnant women, 41 medical cases and several senior citizens while the second flight to Mangalore took off at 5pm.
Indian Consul-General Vipul said the consulate has already sent six flights to India. “We are now on the seventh flight which is scheduled to Mangalore. In the Mangalore flight, 177 passengers, all from Karnataka state, are going back.”
He said there are 39 pregnant women on the Mangalore flight and 15 people who are 70 plus and 27 medical emergencies. Besides that, we have lots of workers and students who are stranded here.