Kochi (Kerala) [India], June 15 (ANI): The bodies of five Indian nationals who tragically lost their lives in a bus accident in Kenya have been brought back to Kerala. The remains were flown in on a Qatar Airways flight that landed at Cochin International Airport on Sunday.
The victims—all residents of Kerala—were part of a group of tourists involved in a tragic accident on June 9 in Naivasha, approximately 150 km from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. The tourist bus, carrying 28 Indian nationals, including the deceased, reportedly veered off the road and fell into a valley, leaving five dead and at least 23 others injured.
The deceased have been identified as Jasna (29), her daughter Ruhi Mehreen (1.5 years), Geetha Shoji Isaac (58), Riya Ann (41), and her daughter Tira Rodrigues (7).
According to the Indian Embassy in Qatar, injured Indian nationals are undergoing treatment and receiving all necessary care. Meanwhile, the post-mortem formalities for the five victims have been completed in Kenya.
Initially, the repatriation faced hurdles due to the Yellow Fever vaccination certificate requirement for the deceased and their accompanying relatives. However, the Kerala State Government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, promptly intervened. Following a special request, the Central Government granted an exemption to allow the bodies to be returned without the yellow fever certification.
Kerala Industries Minister P. Rajeev and representatives of NORKA Roots, the state’s agency for Non-Resident Keralites, received the bodies at the airport. Arrangements were made to transport the deceased to their respective hometowns, accompanied by grieving family members.
The group had been visiting Kenya from Qatar for a sightseeing tour when the accident occurred. The Indian High Commission in Kenya confirmed the incident happened on the Ol Jororok–Nakuru Road in Nyandarua County and has deployed a consular team to coordinate with local authorities and assist the affected families.
In a post on X, the High Commission stated:
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Indian nationals in a road accident in Kenya. Our consular team is on the ground and providing all necessary assistance in coordination with local authorities.”
This tragedy has cast a pall of grief over Kerala, as the families and communities mourn the unexpected loss of five of their own. (ANI)
About The Author
