Kochi: The bodies of five Malayalis who tragically lost their lives in a bus accident in Kenya were officially handed over to their relatives at the Cochin International Airport (Nedumbassery) this morning. Representing the State Government, Industries Minister P. Rajeev formally received the bodies and transferred them to the grieving families.
The victims whose bodies were repatriated to Kerala are:
- Geetha Shoji (58), from Thiruvalla.
- Riya Ann (41), from Mannoor, Palakkad.
- Her daughter, Tyra (8).
- Jasna (29), from Muvattupuzha.
- Her daughter, Roohi Mehrin (one and a half years old).
The funeral of Jasna from Muvattupuzha will be held today. Those injured in the same accident were also brought to Kochi and have been transferred to a private hospital for further treatment. Minister P. Rajeev expressed profound sorrow over the tragic incident and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
Details of the Tragic Accident
The expat group from Qatar had embarked on their vacation to Kenya on June 6, coinciding with Eid al-Adha. The group comprised individuals from various Indian states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka. Their journey was arranged through a package provided by a private travel agency in Qatar, and they were accompanied by two tourist guides.
The tragic accident occurred on June 9, around 4 PM local time, as the group was en route to visit a waterfall in Nyahururu, after having visited the renowned Masai Mara wildlife sanctuary. The bus reportedly overturned and plunged about ten feet due to a technical malfunction.