Hundreds of Indian nationals stuck in Australia have got a new lease of life when the Indian government’s Vande Bharat Mission kicked off. But for one family, it was not a happy homecoming.
The mortal remains of a New South Wales man who passed away exactly one month back have also found its way back home on Monday's Melbourne-Kochi Air India flight.
36-year-old Port Macquarie man Mejo Varghese passed away on April 25th following a heart attack. India's extension of the travel ban, in the wake of coronavirus crisis, put his relatives and friends in a dilemma after they could not find a way to repatriate his body back to his homeland Kerala.
It was after a month-long wait that Mejo's mortal remains are being sent back to Kerala paving the way for his devastated parents to pay last rites to their son, leaving behind his heavily pregnant wife and a four-year-old son.
“We really didn’t know what to do. His parents and siblings wanted to see him. His wife here also decided to repatriate his body to his homeland even if it takes longer.
So, we took the decision to somehow send his mortal remains back,” told Mejo's friend Shijo P Jose to SBS Malayalam.
Initially his friends couldn’t find a way out to send the body back.
“We tried cargo flights and waited for India to open its doors. However, India’s extension of lockdown to May 31st had again perplexed us as there was no other way that we could find to send his body.
"It was then that we came to know the Indian government’s Vande Bharat Mission, the initiative to repatriate the Indians stuck in Australia,” said Shijo.
In order for the flight to take his body, Mejo’s friends had to pass through many hurdles.
Source: Twitter/Indian High Commission
They had to seek the help of India’s External Affairs and many politicians, as they didn’t get a confirmation from Air India on whether it could carry the body.
According to Shijo, help flowed from all sides irrespective of political parties. All politicians whom they were in touch with, rendered their helping hand.
"All paper works were done and we got the confirmation last Thursday and his body was sent to Melbourne by road on Friday before being boarded on the Air Indian flight on Monday."
Although the gap Mejo left can never be repaired, his friends are now relieved that he could be sent back to his dear and near ones to pay homage.
“He was the face of the Port Macquarie Malayalee community. His separation has left a huge scar in our hearts. However, we have to face it and overcome it,” said Shijo.
"We wanted to see him one last time"
"We saw our son in 2018 while we visited him in Australia. We wanted to see him again, but now we can see like this only," Mejo's dad Mathew Kunnampilly told SBS Malayalam.
Mejo's parents have been waiting for a month to see their elder son one last time.
His body will reach Kochi airport in Kerala by Monday midnight. His funeral has been arranged for Tuesday, adhering to coronavirus restrictions. That will be the last time his near and dear ones will get a chance to pay homage to this young dad.
"Mejo's mum was devastated after hearing about his death. She was on the bed with tears for days without even having any food. But now she is slowly recovering," says Mr Kunnampilly.
Source: Getty Images/ Adrian Andrunachi /www.adrian.studiosapte.ro
"As India has not opened its doors to international flights, his sister who is in Ireland will not be able to travel back to Kerala to see him. But his brother who has arrived from Qatar last week is in institutional quarantine.
His brother came to see him. With special permission from the Health Department, he will be allowed to participate in the funeral before he returns to quarantine."
