Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Punjab’s Minister for NRI Affairs, Sanjeev Arora, has extended crucial assistance to a grieving family from Pathankot in repatriating the mortal remains of their 32-year-old relative, Kuldeep Kumar, who passed away earlier this month in Timisoara, Romania.
Sanjeev Arora informed that Kuldeep Kumar, a resident of Sujanpur in Pathankot district, was employed at S.C. Stareto S.R.L. in Timisoara. His family was informed of his death on October 3 by one of his colleagues, Shamsher Singh, who also worked in Romania. In a letter to the authorities, Kuldeep’s brother, Hira Singh, sought government help to bring back the body to India.
Following the family’s plea, Punjab’s Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Lal Chand Kataruchak, forwarded the request to Minister Sanjeev Arora, who promptly wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Embassy of India in Bucharest, urging assistance to facilitate the repatriation.
In his official communication, Minister Arora stated, “The family is in profound grief and urgently seeks the return of his mortal remains to India for the performance of his last rites.”
The minister further requested the Indian mission to “coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the High Commission of Romania in New Delhi to extend all possible assistance to the grieving family during this critical hour.”
Following his appeal, the Embassy of India in Bucharest confirmed that it was in “constant touch with the family members and Romanian authorities” and was taking necessary steps to expedite the repatriation. Sitesh Kumar, Second Secretary (Consular) at the Embassy, assured that efforts were underway to complete the formalities at the earliest.
On October 22, Bibhuti Pandey, Under Secretary in the External Affairs Minister’s Office, informed Minister Arora that the Indian Embassy had finalised a funeral agency to manage the repatriation. Shortly after, an email from the agency confirmed that it had taken custody of the mortal remains and secured the necessary documentation from Timisoara.
The coordinated efforts between Punjab’s NRI Affairs Department, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Embassy in Romania brought relief to the bereaved family, who had been awaiting the return of Kuldeep’s mortal remains to perform his last rites.
The case highlights the Punjab government’s proactive efforts under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, ensuring timely assistance to families of Punjabis residing abroad in times of distress.