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Times of Oman
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Indian diaspora leaders urge government action over passport-related delays in repatriating mortal remains
Washington DC: Advocacy groups called for streamlined procedures after airlines refused to transport mortal remains without original passports. Indian diaspora organisations have written to India's Home Secretary requesting urgent intervention to address bureaucratic obstacles preventing grieving families from repatriating their loved ones' remains to India. The letter, sent by prominent advocacy groups including TEAM Aid and Jaipur Foot USA, highlights a growing crisis affecting Indian families worldwide when Indian citizens die abroad without their passports readily available. The issue has intensified after Air India faced multiple fines from India's Bureau of Immigration, prompting the airline to adopt a strict policy refusing to transport human remains without the deceased's original passport-even when Indian embassies have issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Other airlines have reportedly followed suit with similar policies, creating what advocacy leaders describe as a "deeply distressing and devastating situation" for bereaved families. Prem Bhandari, chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, and Mohan Nannapaneni, founder of TEAM Aid, authored the letter to Home Secretary Govind Mohan outlining the humanitarian crisis. TEAM Aid's Founder and President, Mohan Nannapaneni, along with his dedicated team of volunteers, has facilitated the repatriation of over 4,000 mortal remains from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to every state across India. The organisations explain that passports often become inaccessible when individuals die abroad due to heart-wrenching circumstances. In cases involving accidents, suicides, or homicides, documents may be held by investigating officers for weeks or months. Immigration authorities sometimes retain passports in cases involving asylum seekers or visa violations, leaving families in agonising limbo. "In several tragic cases, the deceased individual lives alone, and their passport is often inaccessible at the time of death," the letter states, painting a picture of isolated deaths far from home. Residences are sometimes sealed during investigations, making document retrieval impossible while families desperately wait to bring their loved ones' home. The human cost of these policies is starkly illustrated in the case of Rahul Patel, whose tragic story has become emblematic of the crisis facing Indian families abroad. "For over a week now, the tragic, untimely, and unnatural death of Rahul Patel has left his mortal remains stranded in a funeral home despite all documentation, including the NOC from the Indian Consulate, being in order," Bhandari said. "The only hurdle is the passport, stuck with customs in Chicago for the last three days, delaying its cancellation. No airline is willing to transport the body due to fear of penalties." The personal toll on families is devastating. "Meanwhile, I receive calls at odd hours from the deceased's brother, Dilip Patel, from Gujarat every day whose family hasn't slept--desperately waiting to bring Rahul home," Bhandari added, highlighting the sleepless nights and anguish that define the experience of families caught in this bureaucratic maze. Despite Indian consulates showing compassion by issuing NOCs that acknowledge missing passports, families face additional trauma when remains arrive in India. Airport immigration officials sometimes detain bodies for hours, citing the absence of original travel documents, creating further delays in an already agonising process. "We used to occasionally ship human remains even when the original passport was unavailable, with the support of the Indian Consulate-issued No Objection Certificate (NOC)," says Nannapaneni. "However, due to recent penalties imposed on airlines by the Bureau of Immigration, carriers are now refusing to transport remains without an original passport. This has created heartbreaking challenges for grieving families who are unable to fulfill sacred religious rites and ensure a dignified final journey to their loved ones' homeland." The advocacy groups note this heartbreaking scenario occurs "even after families have endured days of emotional turmoil and logistical challenges to bring their loved one's home." Chief Advisor Prem Bhandari raises a fundamental question about the current system: "Indian Consulates, Embassies, and High Commissions issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the repatriation of mortal remains only after verifying the deceased's Indian nationality. Therefore, penalising airlines in such cases is neither understandable nor justified." His words underscore the frustration felt by families caught between competing bureaucratic requirements while trying to honour their departed loved ones. In light of this growing crisis, TEAM Aid's Chief Advisor, Prem Bhandari, has formally appealed to the Home Secretary of the Government of India, urging immediate intervention and a permanent resolution to protect and support Indian families in distress abroad. The organisations are requesting a formal directive or circular to airport and immigration authorities across India, stipulating that valid embassy NOCs mentioning passport unavailability should be sufficient for releasing remains without further delays. "We humbly request your intervention to streamline the process," the letter states with quiet desperation, emphasising that the issue "affects the dignity of the deceased and the sentiments of their families." The groups describe the matter as a "critical humanitarian concern" requiring immediate government attention to support the Indian diaspora community, particularly the substantial population in North America.
Fox News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Noem rips CNN report claiming she delayed DHS response to Texas flood as 'absolutely trash'
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem savaged a CNN report Thursday stating she delayed FEMA's response to the deadly Texas flooding from last weekend. During a segment on "Fox & Friends," Noem responded to CNN's piece, which alleged that FEMA – an agency under DHS – ran into "bureaucratic obstacles" imposed by the secretary that slowed the agency in providing life-saving resources to the victims of the disaster in central Texas. "Well, there you go. Fake News. CNN again. It's absolutely trash what they're doing by saying that," Noem told the Fox News Channel hosts. Over 100 people have died and over 150 others have gone missing due to flash flooding that devastated parts of central Texas near the Guadalupe River over the Fourth of July weekend. A CNN article published Thursday claimed that Noem's recent order that every DHS "contract and grant over $100,000 now requires her personal sign-off before any funds can be released," slowed down FEMA's attempts to secure funds for disaster relief costs and contracts with on-the-ground crews. "In essence, they say the order has stripped the agency of much of its autonomy at the very moment its help is needed most," the CNN article reported. A "longtime FEMA official" told the outlet, "We were operating under a clear set of guidance: lean forward, be prepared, anticipate what the state needs, and be ready to deliver it. That is not as clear of an intent for us at the moment." "In the past, FEMA would have swiftly staged these teams, which are specifically trained for situations including catastrophic floods, closer to a disaster zone in anticipation of urgent requests, multiple agency sources told CNN," the piece said. "Noem didn't authorize FEMA's deployment of Urban Search and Rescue teams until Monday, more than 72 hours after the flooding began, multiple sources told CNN," the report added. While on "Fox & Friends," Noem countered the claims that she caused a delayed response, stating DHS teams were deployed to the disaster zone immediately. "Our Coast Guard, our Border Patrol BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit) teams were there immediately. Every single thing they asked for, we were there," the DHS head said. "The governor and the emergency management director, Nim Kidd, are fantastic and nobody there has said anything about that they didn't get everything that they wanted immediately or that they needed. And I'm proud of the work we've done to support that." She continued, noting that her department is also responding to flooding in New Mexico and North Carolina and working with ground teams there. Noem blasted CNN once more, saying, "The fact that CNN is continuing to be political and push out fake information and false information and lies is not shocking, but it's a disservice to the country. It's a real disservice to the country because people start to mistrust anything that comes out then over the news." Fox News Digital reached out to CNN for comment.
