Venkat Raman
As you read this, preparations were being made to transport the mortal remains of Perumal Dinakaran to his family in Chennai.
His employer said that he would bear the cost of transporting the body.
Twenty-three-year-old Perumal had a head on collision with a transport truck in the early hours of Thursday, May 24, 2018, in Hawke’s Bay.
Indian Newslink has been in contact with the New Zealand Police, Indian High Commission in Wellington, Perumal’s family, his friends and the leaders in the Tamil community since news came to our hand hours after the unfortunate incident.
We cannot confirm how the accident occurred yet, since the Police Serious Crash Unit is still conducting investigation into the cause of the death.
Ghastly accident
However, we can confirm that Perumal, who lives in Napier, was travelling to Hawke’s Bay after completing an early morning assignment. The accident occurred on the Links Road and Evenden Road when his Suzuki Swift crashed into an oncoming truck of McCarthy Transport.
New Zealand Police Sergeant Paul Ormerod said that while the truck driver tried his best, but could not avoid the collision.
The accident occurred around 750 am.
A Police official said that it was a serious crash and that the Highway was closed for more than half day until spot investigations were carried out.
Following a post-mortem, the body was brought to Napier.
Modest financial background
Perumal’s father Vedachalam Dinakaran told Indian Newslink from his home in Chennai that his family is devastated to hear of the tragic death of their son.
“We are a very poor family. We were vey hopeful that Perumal will rise and be a successful son with a bright career and life. Fate had played a cruel game against us. None of us in the family has even a passport. We are unable to travel to New Zealand but would like to have the body of our son so that we can perform last rites,” he said.
Mythili Rajendran, Special Secretary to Tamil Nadu Government has also written to the Indian High Commissioner requesting him to arrange for repatriation of Perumal’s body.
Perumal’s younger brother Vishal wrote to Indian High Commission Second Secretary (Consular and Visa Services) Paramjeet Singh, thanking him and other officials for their support and assistance.
Donation Drive
“Our family is struggling financially and have tried several options for financial help. Please help us in this critical situation to bring my brother’s body to India. We also seek financial support,” he said in the letter.
Auckland based Muthamil Sangam and Auckland Tamil Association have announced a donation drive to mobilise money in aid Perumal’s family.
For details, please contact Karthik Ramanathan (Email: muthtamilsangam@gmail.com) or Vai Ravindran (Email: vairavindran@gmail.com)
Perumal Dinakaran (Picture Supplied)
