Latest news with #Non-ResidentKeralitesAffairs
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Mortal remains of Keralites who died in Kenya bus accident brought home
KOCHI: The Mortal remains of the five Keralites who were killed after their bus plunged into a gorge in central Kenya, was brought to the Kochi airport on Sunday morning. Accompanied by relatives, the mortal remains were transferred to ambulances stationed at the international terminal arrivals gate, without stopping for public viewing, and taken to their respective home towns in Muvattupuzha, Tiruvalla and Palakkad. Industries Minister P Rajeeve, Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) GM Rashmi T and several other officials and dignitaries, who were at the airport, paid last respects to the deceased inside the ambulances. The mortal remains of Jasna Makkar, 29, and her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Roohi Mehrin from Muvattupuzha, Riya Ann, 41, and her daughter Tyra Rodrigues, 7, from Mannur in Palakkad, and Geetha Shoji Isaac, 58, from Tiruvalla, were brought on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha around 9.15 am. The bodies were handed to the authorities concerned and the ambulances carrying them left the airport by 10.30 am, said a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer
Hindustan Times
15-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Mortal remains of 5 Keralites who died in Kenyan road mishap reach state
Kochi, The bodies of five Keralites who died in a road mishap in Kenya were flown back to the southern state on Sunday, official sources said. The bodies of the deceased, including those of two children, aged one-and-a-half and seven years old, reached the international airport at Nedumbassery here on a flight from Qatar, the sources said. The victims travelled to the African nation for a holiday, and the accident occurred in the Nyandarua County. Industries Minister P Rajeev and other officials concerned, and relatives of the deceased, received the dead bodies. The minister placed wreaths on the mortal remains and paid homage on behalf of the state government after the bodies were shifted to the ambulances. The bodies were not kept for public homage at the airport as requested by the family members and were taken to their respective places, sources said. While talking to the reporters at the airport later, Rajeev said, the funeral of some of the deceased would be held on Sunday, and others would be held on Tuesday. "The mishap was a painful incident. Those who had gone on holiday to Kenya met with the tragedy. The government intervened in all possible areas and did everything for the smooth repatriation of the bodies without delay," he said. Rajeev said though there was an issue with the yellow fever vaccination certificate, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan intervened in the matter and helped to waive it. The relatives, however, were given general instructions to make funeral arrangements in accordance with protocol, he said. The minister said he also met the three injured persons, and they would be admitted to a hospital soon. The deceased hail from Moovattupuzha, Mavelikkara and Palakkad, authorities said. The Non-Resident Keralites Affairs authorities in the statement on Saturday said that the swift intervention of CM Vijayan has helped to get a special exemption from the Centre in connection with a yellow fever vaccine certificate. Just a few hours before the flight carrying bodies scheduled to depart from Kenya to Qatar, the travel agency officials stated that a yellow fever vaccine certificate was required to transport the mortal remains of the accident victims. This raised concerns that the repatriation of the bodies would be delayed, but CM Vijayan intervened and took up the matter with the Centre, which later waived the vaccine certificate considering the special circumstances, the statement added. Vijayan, on Wednesday, had written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting full support for the swift and dignified repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased to India. He had urged the Ministry of External Affairs to direct the Indian High Commission in Kenya to facilitate legal formalities, documentation, and logistical support for the affected families.
India Today
10-06-2025
- India Today
5 Keralites killed in tourist bus accident in Kenya, several injured
Five Keralites are reported to have died in a tragic bus accident in Kenya, though the Indian High Commission in Nairobi has yet to officially confirm the identities of the accident occurred on June 9 at around 7:00 PM IST (4:30 PM local time) near Nyahururu, a town located about 150 km from bus, carrying 28 Indian tourists who had travelled from Qatar, was involved in the mishap during a tour of the region. According to reports, several other passengers sustained Members of the Loka Kerala Sabha, through Norka Roots (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs), have stepped in to coordinate relief efforts. The Sabha has confirmed that the injured, including Keralites currently being treated in Nyahururu, will be transported to hospitals in Nairobi by road or air ambulance by mortal remains of the deceased will also be shifted to the injured will receive medical attention at Nakuru and Aga Khan hospitals in Nairobi, with support from the local Malayali Association and Loka Kerala Sabha World Kerala Sabha members in Kenya, GP Rajmohan and Sajith Shankar, along with members of the Kerala Association of Kenya, promptly reached the accident site to assist the seeking assistance or information related to the incident can contact the Norka Global Contact Center's help desk at 18004253939 (toll-free from India) or give a missed call to +91-8802012345 (from abroad).advertisement
New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Student groups in Delhi mobilise support for stranded Malayalis amid Indo-Pak conflict
KOZHIKODE: Student organisations have come together to form evacuation support groups for Malayalee students, tourists, and professionals stranded in northern border states amid the crisis triggered by the Indo-Pak standoff. Organisations such as the SFI and the MSF have begun collecting data on Malayalees currently residing in states like Kashmir, Punjab, Jammu, and Rajasthan to assist with evacuation efforts. The collected information is being shared with the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department and other state government agencies to coordinate travel and relief measures. MSF has launched a Google form to gather details from Malayalees in the affected regions. So far, around 5,000 people have registered through the form, which collects information on their current location, the number of people in their group, their expected arrival date in Delhi, plans to either stay in the capital or return to Kerala, home districts, and other relevant details. 'Due to safety concerns, people are travelling in groups. Apart from students, there are many tourists and professionals stranded in these states. It's extremely dangerous to travel by road under the present circumstances, and travel options to Kerala are very limited. That's why we need to coordinate efforts to help Malayalees reach safety,' said Muhammed Aslam, a Punjab-based MSF volunteer managing the data collection initiative.
India Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Control rooms opened in Kerala to assist Malayalis living near Pakistan border
In response to the escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan border, the Kerala government has established control rooms at the Secretariat and the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department to assist Malayalis and students from the state residing in the border move follows orders from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, issued in the wake of recent cross-border hostilities. A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed the development, while also assuring the public that 'there is no need to be worried' at government urged Malayalis in the affected areas to remain calm, follow official instructions and reach out if assistance is needed. Contact details for Kerala assistance centre:Secretariat control room:Phone: 0471-2517500, 0471-2517600Fax: 0471-2322600Email: cdmdkerala@ global contact centre:Toll-Free: 18004253939Missed Call (from abroad): 00918802012345The establishment of the control rooms comes after Pakistani armed forces launched a series of drone and munition attacks across the western border during the intervening night of May 8–9, which were 'effectively repulsed' by Indian forces, according to the Indian Army. Pakistani troops also reportedly carried out multiple ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and developments follow India's missile strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terror locations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and across Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 IN THIS STORY#Kerala#Jammu and Kashmir
