Dead body of Telangana man remains in Christchurch
Venkat Raman
Auckland, August 19, 2022
Contrary to a media report, the body of 32-year-old Vamshi Reddy Chinta Reddy is still in Christchurch since the requisite money for transportation to India has not been raised yet.
However, Telangana Association of New Zealand President Narendra Reddy told Indian Newslink moments ago that he has made arrangements to send the body on an Emirates flight on Monday (August 22, 2022) almost ten days after the death of the man.
“I have assured the Vamshi’s family that we are doing our best,” he said.
The late Vamshi’s brother Avinash Reddy told Indian Newslink over the phone from his home near Khammam in Telangana State that the family is in a dire financial state and that the mental condition of his parents is even worse.
Financial hardship
“My parents are devastated. My father has taken out loans of over Rs 65 lakhs (about $130,000) for our overseas studies. Vamshi went to New Zealand for higher education whereas I am studying in California, United States. I rushed home on hearing the death of my brother,” he said.
Vamshi Reddy died on Friday, August 12, 2022, just three days before his birthday.
He would have been 33 years old on August 15, 2022, not 43 years as the media report said.
Avinash said that he has been in contact with the Indian High Commission with a request to have the dead body of his brother sent home immediately but despite the lapse of a week, there has been no progress. The family has no relatives in New Zealand.
“I was asked to produce a number of documents, one of which is a bank statement of the past six months. We are poor people. My father works in the local Panchayat Raj and does not earn much. I have sent a bank statement which shows a balance of about Rs 1.5 lakhs (about $3000). My parents are very anxious to see the body of my brother and conduct the final rites. I am grateful to Narendra Reddy and the members of the Telangana and Telugu Community for their help,” he said.
Frustrating procedures
Mr Narender Reddy said that the experience with the Indian High Commission has been frustrating, although he said that he understands their position.
“I am aware of the procedures that have to be followed but I am surprised at the level of bureaucracy. There should be a system that takes care of deceased Indian citizens first. We have appealed through Give A Little Page,” he said.
At the time of writing this report, Give a Little Page showed a collection of $5326, a far cry from an estimated amount of $20,000 required to repatriate the body.
“However, thanks to the support of our people, we will be able to repatriate the body on Monday. We realise one harsh fact. When such tragedies occur, we can rely only on our people and on the generosity of New Zealanders. I am appealing to everyone through Indian Newslink and TANZ to donate generously to the Give A Little Page,” he said.
