Kin of fisherman who died in Saudi await arrival of body

Fisherman from Thirupalaikudi allegedly died of heart attack on June 26

August 20, 2013 02:21 pm | Updated 02:36 pm IST - RAMANATHAPURAM

Family members of M.Kaliappan, a fisherman who died in Saudi Arabia. Photo: L. Balachandar

Family members of M.Kaliappan, a fisherman who died in Saudi Arabia. Photo: L. Balachandar

Life turned cruel for the fisherman’s family ever since M.Kaliappan (43), the sole breadwinner, died in Saudi Arabia on June 26, as the family members are running from pillar to post to bring his body back home.

Mr.Kaliappan, hailing from coastal fishing village Thirupalaikudi, had gone to the gulf country on October 2 last year on contract fishing, and died – allegedly of heart attack – on the night of June 26 this year. Since then, it has been an agonising wait for the family to get the body.

As there were no signs of the arrival of the body, K.Kamshini, the 12-year-old daughter of the deceased, came to the Collectorate on the public grievance redressal day on Monday along with her brother K.Kishore (14) and grandmother M.Kaliammal (65) to seek the Collector’s help to bring back the body of her father.

She said in her petition that last month the family was informed by her father’s colleagues in Saudi Arabia that the employer would send the body in a fortnight’s time, but there were no signs of the arrival of the body even after a month.

The family members gave a petition to Fisheries Minister K.A.Jayapal on August 1, when he visited the village to distribute cash assistance to the families of fishermen imprisoned in Iran, but there had been no development till date, she said, and urged the Collector to help them. She said she was studying Class VIII and her brother Class X at Syed Ammal Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram, and requested the Collector to get them relief from the Chief Minister’s General Relief Fund and help them continue their studies.

For Mrs.Kaliammal it was the worst of the times as her elder son M.Rajaji also died in Saudi Arabia three years ago, leaving behind his wife and six children in the lurch.

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