Two days before she was to return, Barmer woman dies in Pakistan, Swaraj assures help

A 65-year-old woman from Rajasthan’s Barmer district visiting her sisters in Pakistan, died two days before she was to return to India and a day before her visa expired following which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has assured help to her family members in repatriation of mortal remains.

Swaraj in a tweet asked Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria to help the family members after which he replied: “We are getting in touch with the family in this sad case. Will facilitate the repatriation of remains.”

Reshma, a resident of Agasadi village in Barmer, had gone to Pakistan with her son Saheb on June 30. Her health started worsening on June 24 and she died the next day. He visa expired on June 26, a day before she was supposed to board Thar Express — a weekly train between the two countries — on Friday, June 27.

Reshma’s another son Jadam met the district officials and also local MLA Manvendra Singh seeking his intervention in getting the body back for performing the last rites.

Singh said he has spoken to the officials in the foreign ministry and at the Indian high commission in Pakistan. “Reshma’s family members in Pakistan have been contacted. Efforts are on to help them with the assistance of the MEA. However, chances of receiving the remains by the Thar Express are bleak as the visa of the family expired on July 26,” the MLA said.

He said that the deceased’s relatives in Pakistan were trying to get the visa extended.

Shivprasad Nakate, Barmer district collector, said that due to lack of some documents, Reshma’s son could not be catch Thar Express on Friday. “Now, we are trying to bring the body via road. I have taken up the issue with BSF to allow the family to enter India through the same route as Thar Express,” said Nakate, adding that he was yet to get a reply from BSF.”

The MLA, however, said that the permission to receive the body at Munabao in Barmer has been granted. Now, family members will not have to travel to Jodhpur, he added.

The Thar Express doesn’t halt at Barmer and passengers have to board or deboard the train from Jodhpur.

WITH PTI