The deceased Telangana man Vamshi Reddy has finally departed Christchurch on his last journey back home to Hyderabad via Dubai after on Tuesday, August 23, and is scheduled to reach its destination on Wednesday, August 24.
High Commission of India officials from Wellington have been in continuous touch with all stakeholders to ensure that the body reaches the family at the earliest opportunity.
Upon the request of the family, financial support was also provided for this repatriation.
The recently appointed Chargé D’Affairs of the Indian High Commission Mukesh Ghiya expressed deep condolences and confirmed that all formalities have now been completed and the body has departed New Zealand via Emirates airlines to reach Hyderabad.
“High Commission of India in Wellington has always been very proactive in such cases and do everything possible to support such cases of distress,” Mr Ghiya said.
The Indian Weekender had earlier reported on Thursday, August 18, quoting Siva Killari, the noted community leader who had been the person actively involved on the ground in organising all coordination work, including dealing with NZ authorities (police, department of coroner, department of Internal Affairs), funeral home) and the office of the Indian High Commission.
It was then reported that the body was likely to travel back on Friday August 19.
Killari was approached by a member of the community about the unfortunate death of 32-year-old Vamshi Reddy on August 15 (three days after the death) and he has immediately flown down to Ashburton to take charge of the situation.
Mr Killari had not only spoken to the hapless parents of Vamshi Reddy back in Hyderabad on August 15 over a video call and had consistently been in touch with them keeping informed about the necessary developments.
Sharing with the Indian Weekender the timeline of the events, Mr Killari said “the death happened on August 12, a death certificate was issued by New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) on August 18 and the entire paperwork was completed by the Indian High Commission’s office on the same day on August 18.”
“I had been constantly speaking with Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon who have facilitated a spontaneous connection with the officials of the Indian High Commission in Wellington and it has been an expeditious processing since then,” Mr Killari said.
Mr Killari also told the Indian Weekender that he has given a personal assurance to the local funeral home involved in making necessary repatriation arrangement to complete the process and send the family an invoice which would be cleared promptly.
“However, the local funeral home, which had little experience in sending a body overseas before had taken more than initially anticipated time that resulted in a delay of couple of days,” Mr Killari said.
“In the end we were able to receive generous contributions from kind community members via multiple fundraisers and a significant amount contributed by the Indian High Commission to facilitate the repatriation process,” Mr Killari said.
Responding to suggestions in some quarters that the necessary paperwork had taken more than expected time, Mr Ghiya reiterated that it was a standard process followed every time government of India’s help was sought to bear cost of travel arrangements to ensure all necessary due diligence was completed before authorising spending of public money.
“Before authorising any spending of public money, the officials are required to ensure that due diligence is completed to prove that the case was needed and deserving release of funds.”
“It is a process followed with utmost care, empathy and speed and generally those involved in the coordination between hapless family and the authorities in such circumstances are able to understand and support the process,” Mr Ghiya concluded.
Collective efforts from different stakeholders within community appreciated
Meanwhile, several community associations and key stakeholders have been working emphatically eyes the best outcome for the hapless family over the last week to bring an expeditious closure of the case.
The key stakeholders involved in Vamshi’s repatriation arrangements involved Siva Killari, Senior leader of Telangana community Kalyan Rao Kasuganti (Telangana Federation of New Zealand), Jagan Vodanala, President of NZ Telangana Rashtra Samithi Party, Suneel Kuncha and Anitha Mogilicharla of NZ Telugu Association and Telangana Association of New Zealand (TANZ).