External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has come forward to help the family of an Indian killed in a road accident in New York.
A 38-year-old Chandan Gavai from Maharashtra died in a road accident along with his parents in a drunk driving accident in the US on July 4. Gavai was working as an IT professional in New York. His wife Manisha is in coma and their 11-month old son Ibhan has received serious injuries.
However, Gavai’s family members in India claim they are struggling to get the dead bodies back home for cremation arguing that the last rites costs in the US is too high for them to bear. Swaraj on Sunday said that the Indian Government has approached the Gavai family for help.
“Gavai family tragedy in US: CG (Consul General) New York has proposed to the family as follows: a) Cremation of parents in New York b) Burial of Chandan as his wife Manisha is in coma and she alone can give consent for his cremation, c) Death certificate for all three members of the family d) Help in getting insurance money,” Swaraj said on Twitter after media reported the tragic story. She further added that the Indian Consulate in New York will bear the expenses for cremation of Gavai’s parents.
Swaraj also clarified that the money for cremation of Chandan Gavai and his parents cannot be handed over to his elder brother Anand, a scientist in Netherlands and a Dutch national. “Mr Anand Gavai wants that money be given to him which cannot be done as he is a Dutch national. Under Government rules, money cannot be given to a foreign national,” Swaraj said.