Relatives identify body of Indian citizen washed ashore in Nedunththeevu

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 September 2008, 19:54 GMT]
The grandson and two nephews of the Indian citizen whose corpse was washed ashore 14 September in the islet of Nedunththeevu (Delft) identified and confirmed that it was their relative from Gujarath by the identifications found on the corpse. The relatives, accompanied by an attorney-at-law from India, identified the corpse in Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary Friday, sources in Jaffna said.

The group from Gujarath consisting of four persons was accompanied by an official of the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

Oorkaavattu'rai (Kayts) magistrate Ms. Joy Mahdeva, accompanied by Oorkaavattu'rai police made the necessary arrangements for the identification of the corpse.

The deceased was a member of a group of 500 pilgrims to South India who were on their way to Raameasvaram in Tamil Nadu after worshipping at Thiruppathi temple in Andra Predesh.

The victim had accidentally fallen into the sea while the group was heading to Raameasvaram in the train, the relatives said.

On the request made by the relatives of the victim the magistrate granted permission for the corpse to be cremated according to Hindu religious rites, in Koampaiyan Ma'nal crematorium in Jaffna.

The relatives made the request in view of the practical difficulties in taking the body home and expressed their wish to take the ash after cremation.

The magistrate granted their request.