Indian temporary migrant worker dies under lockdown: Desperate family begs for repatriation
A twenty-eight-year-old Indian national currently in the country on a work visa has passed away in Northland on Friday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
The Indian Weekender has reliably learned that the man had suffered a heart attack around 4 p.m. on Friday, April 10, in Paihia where he lived and worked, just after returning from a walk.
The ambulance services responded immediately and attended him, however, failed to revive him. The body of the deceased is currently placed in Whangarei morgue.
This tragic untimely death of the migrant worker further presents another gut-wrenching crisis during the covid-19 lockdown period with unprecedented global travel restrictions and India’s own ban on operation of any foreign commercial airlines, about the repatriation of the man back to his overseas-based family.
The man was the only son of his parents, who are expectedly desperate to bring him home for his last remains.
The Indian Weekender has learnt the name and the identity of the deceased, however, choosing not to reveal it until all formal identification process is complete by the New Zealand Police.
An enquiry has been sent to the New Zealand Police to get more information.
Indian High Commission & Consulate's office providing all support
Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi has told the Indian Weekender that they are aware of the unfortunate death and constantly in touch with the family of the deceased back in India.
"It is very unfortunate that a 28 yo person passed away due to cardiac arrest on Friday.
"Through our Consulate office in Auckland, we have been able to establish contact with a cousin of the deceased who lives in Auckland.
"We have assured him all Consular help through our consulate office," Mr Pardeshi said.
On a further enquiry about the possibility of the repatriation of the person back home Mr Pardeshi said, "We are living in very uncertain and difficult times due to Covid-19 global pandemic."
"If it would have been any other time we would have surely initiated the repatriation process.
"But right now we will be guided by the NZ government's protocols.
"We are in touch with authorities, including back home in India for clearer guidelines and updates on the lifting of flight restrictions," Mr Pardeshi said.
"Our Consulate in Auckland Mr Bhav Dhillon is constantly in touch and providing all support during this tragic period for the family members of the deceased," Mr Pardeshi said.
Funerals and burials under the lockdown
Meanwhile, the government has formulated new rules around funerals and burials during the lockdown
New rules are in place for taking care of our deceased loved ones during the lockdown. The rules apply to everyone, every culture, every religion, regardless of the cause of death.
Under the new rules, there will be:
- no formal funerals or burials whatsoever
- no funerals at church, the mosque, synagogues, temples, funeral home or other venues
- no private funerals at home.
No rule yet around body repatriation
However, there are no specific rules around body repatriation during the lockdown. The Indian Weekender has contacted the office of the Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa to get more clarity on this important issue for the migrant communities.
A twenty-eight-year-old Indian national currently in the country on a work visa has passed away in Northland on Friday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
The Indian Weekender has reliably learned that the man had suffered a heart attack around 4 p.m. on Friday, April 10, in Paihia where he...
A twenty-eight-year-old Indian national currently in the country on a work visa has passed away in Northland on Friday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
The Indian Weekender has reliably learned that the man had suffered a heart attack around 4 p.m. on Friday, April 10, in Paihia where he lived and worked, just after returning from a walk.
The ambulance services responded immediately and attended him, however, failed to revive him. The body of the deceased is currently placed in Whangarei morgue.
This tragic untimely death of the migrant worker further presents another gut-wrenching crisis during the covid-19 lockdown period with unprecedented global travel restrictions and India’s own ban on operation of any foreign commercial airlines, about the repatriation of the man back to his overseas-based family.
The man was the only son of his parents, who are expectedly desperate to bring him home for his last remains.
The Indian Weekender has learnt the name and the identity of the deceased, however, choosing not to reveal it until all formal identification process is complete by the New Zealand Police.
An enquiry has been sent to the New Zealand Police to get more information.
Indian High Commission & Consulate's office providing all support
Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi has told the Indian Weekender that they are aware of the unfortunate death and constantly in touch with the family of the deceased back in India.
"It is very unfortunate that a 28 yo person passed away due to cardiac arrest on Friday.
"Through our Consulate office in Auckland, we have been able to establish contact with a cousin of the deceased who lives in Auckland.
"We have assured him all Consular help through our consulate office," Mr Pardeshi said.
On a further enquiry about the possibility of the repatriation of the person back home Mr Pardeshi said, "We are living in very uncertain and difficult times due to Covid-19 global pandemic."
"If it would have been any other time we would have surely initiated the repatriation process.
"But right now we will be guided by the NZ government's protocols.
"We are in touch with authorities, including back home in India for clearer guidelines and updates on the lifting of flight restrictions," Mr Pardeshi said.
"Our Consulate in Auckland Mr Bhav Dhillon is constantly in touch and providing all support during this tragic period for the family members of the deceased," Mr Pardeshi said.
Funerals and burials under the lockdown
Meanwhile, the government has formulated new rules around funerals and burials during the lockdown
New rules are in place for taking care of our deceased loved ones during the lockdown. The rules apply to everyone, every culture, every religion, regardless of the cause of death.
Under the new rules, there will be:
- no formal funerals or burials whatsoever
- no funerals at church, the mosque, synagogues, temples, funeral home or other venues
- no private funerals at home.
No rule yet around body repatriation
However, there are no specific rules around body repatriation during the lockdown. The Indian Weekender has contacted the office of the Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa to get more clarity on this important issue for the migrant communities.
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