Sushma Swaraj steps in to bring back sailor’s body

The ministry of external affairs swung into action to get back to India the body of deceased Palash Balsetwar (20), a deck cadet working for a private shipping company, who lost his life as his ship sank late on the night of March 15 near Iran.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj personally called up the parents of Palash in Aurangabad and assured that the vacation of officials at Indian High Commission in Tehran had been cancelled and that she had ordered the MEA officials in Delhi to bring back the body on priority basis.

“We got a call from MEA officials and Ms Swaraj herself spoke to me and gave me an assurance that my son’s body would be brought to India as soon as possible,” said Dutta Balsetwar, Palash’s father.

The Asian Age had, on Sunday, reported that the bereaved family of Palash from Aurangabad had called on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Ms Swaraj over the delay in bringing back their son’s dead body from Iran.

“We are in constant touch with the authorities from the Iranian government and the Indian High Commission. Our weekend holidays have been cancelled, but the problem is from the Iranian officials who will probably respond on Monday,” said an official from MEA.

According to protocol, the procedure to bring back the body will start when the Indian High Commission will visit the hospital and check whether the post-mortem took place and the reason of death is identified. After the approval from the Iranian government, the body will be sent to Tehran from Bandar Abbas (port) and to India. Palash’s body is lying in a hospital at Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan in Iran. The Iranian officials are not clearing the procedure to send the body to India as officials in Iran are on vacation till April 4, 2016 due Navroze celebrations. With Palash, the other six Indians are also stuck in Iran who lost their belongings in the accident and were present with Palash when the ship met with an accident.

Speaking with The Asian Age, Rakesh, colleague of Palash, from Iran, said, “We are being told the Iranian officials will investigate into the accident and for which they will need us for enquiry and only after which Indian High Commission will issue us new passports and send us to India.” Palash worked as a deck cadet for a private shipping company and lost his life owing to his ship sinking late at night on March 15.