The newly opened Indian Consulate office in Auckland has played a crucial role in getting the request for assistance in repatriating Manaswani Bellamkonda back to India, approved by the High Commission of India, Wellington.
The grieving family of 24-year-year-old Ms Bellamkonda would have some news that could potentially reduce the stress of bearing the financial cost of repatriation, if not the pain of her untimely demise.
The Honorary Consul of India, Bhav Dhillon, confirmed that in this instance their office would be able to assist the grieving family in taking Manaswani back to India.
“The Consulate office had received the request from the family and Telangana Association (TANZ).
“We realise that this is a very unfortunate situation.
“At this instance, the Government of India is able to bear the complete cost of repatriating Ms Bellamkonda back to India,” Mr Dhillon said.
Earlier, TANZ had written to the Consulate office on behalf of the grieving family to seek financial help as they have exhausted their limited resources for their travel and stay in New Zealand.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender, Kalyan Rao Kasungati, President of Telangana Association, expressed gratitude to the Consulate office on behalf of the entire community for intervening and bearing the cost of repatriating Ms Bellamkonda.
“We are really thankful to the Consulate Office and the High Commission of India for taking up the cause of sending the mortal remains of Manaswini back home to India.
“This is a very big help for the family which is struggling financially as the husband has not been able to work since the news of his pregnant wife suffering from cancer broke out to him,” Mr Kasungati told the Indian Weekender.
The husband, Jay Krishna Bellamkonda, a New Zealand resident, had been on long-term leave from work to look after his ailing wife and the recently born baby.
Ms Bellamkonda was first diagnosed with stage 4 of Adenocarcinoma (a form of cancer) in August this year when she was in the 25th month of her pregnancy.
The community had then rallied behind generously to support the family in bearing financial costs of bringing Ms Bellamkonda’s parents from India.
A Givealittle page was created (August 29) to support the family during the stressful phase of battling with the medical ailment. The Indian Weekender had covered that story and relayed family's call for help to the wider.
Public viewing arranged in Auckland
The grieving family has organised a public viewing of Ms Bellamkonda for one last time for the family, friends and the members of the wider community on Thursday, November 23, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ann's Funeral Home, Wiri, Manukau.
Vijay Kosna, a Telangana community leader, who is also related to Ms Bellamkonda told The Indian Weekender that the grieving family had organised a public viewing of Ms Bellamkonda for one last time for family, friends and the members of the wider community, before taking her back to India.