This story is from June 4, 2020

Bihar: Medico dies in Kyrgyzstan, parents want her body back

When she waved goodbye to her family members on her last visit to Nawada six months back before flying back to Kyrgyzstan, they did not know that it was her last meeting with them.
Bihar: Medico dies in Kyrgyzstan, parents want her body back
Image used for representational purpose only
PATNA: When she waved goodbye to her family members on her last visit to Nawada six months back before flying back to Kyrgyzstan, they did not know that it was her last meeting with them.
The 24-year-old Puja Kumari, a medical student, died in Kyrgyzstan on June 1 due to chronic cardiovascular failure, as per her medical report sent to the family at Navin Nagar in Nawada on Tuesday.
The family members are desperate to get her body back to perform the last rites. Puja had been in Bishkek for higher studies at KRGYX State Medical Academy since 2017.
Puja’s father Krishna Kumar, a farmer, says he contacted several officials at the Indian embassy in Kyrgyzstan and also appealed to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) through phone calls and emails for evacuation of his daughter’s body, but to no avail. Her mother Ruma Devi’s only wish is to hug her daughter for one last time.
The family received the death certificate of Puja on Wednesday. Her parents have lost hope to get Puja’s mortal remains or travel to Kyrgyzstan to bring back her body due to the ongoing travel ban owing to Covid-19 pandemic.
Puja’s brother Gautam Kumar told TOI on Wednesday that they wrote several mails to the Indian embassy in Kyrgyzstan and even contacted the MEA for evacuation of the body to perform the last rites. “No one has responded to our mails and calls,” he rued.
The family said Puja had no health issue. She complained about abdomen pain on May 22. Later, on May 30, she was admitted to a private hospital in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, when her condition deteriorated. She died on June 1.

Gautam alleged that his sister died due to medical negligence at the hospital in Bishkek. “She was fine when I talked to her a day before her death. We tried hard to bring her back when she first complained about the pain in abdomen,” he said.
“I contacted the private airlines on May 26 for the evacuation of my sister, who could not fly due to ban on international flights. She might have got better treatment here if the officials had paid head to their pleading,” Gautam added.”
Puja’s younger brother Pankaj Kumar said they were still trying hard to see her the last time. “She had last visited Nawada almost six months back,” he said.
Meanwhile, LJP chief Chirag Paswan on Wednesday wrote separate letters to external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, requesting them to help bring the body of Puja. Chirag urged the CM to talk to the MEA to make special arrangements to bring the body. In the letter, he has also mentioned the details about the girl and her passport number.
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About the Author
Faryal Rumi

She is working with the Times of India as a Senior Digital Content Creator on the Patna desk.

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