Jammu youth dies in Greece, family seeks govt help for repatriation

The family of a deceased youth from the Muthi area of the Jouriyan town in Jammu, who died in Greece, has appealed to the central government to repatriate his mortal remains. Identified as Pankaj Kumar Sharma, the 26-year-old's body is kept at the General Hospital, Neas Ionias, Konstantopouleio, Greece.

Pankaj, who had been working in a private company in Greece for the past three years, is survived by his mother Geeta Devi and three brothers, Anil, Sunil and Amit Sharma. Pankaj's father, Yashpal, had passed away a few years ago.

The family was informed of Pankaj’s demise by an official call from the Indian Embassy in Greece. The deceased's family has now sought governtment intervention to bring back his mortal remains to India. Ankush Kumar, Pankaj's cousin, said that the family has appealed to the Union Minister in PMO, Jitendra Singh, and MP Jugal Kishore to facilitate the repatriation so that Pankaj's last rites can be conducted with proper rituals in his native village.

According to Pankaj's family, the exact cause of his death is yet to be ascertained. Ashok Kumar, Pankaj's uncle, said, "I want to urge the government to bring back the mortal remains of our son, who died in Greece a few days ago. We came to know about his death day before yesterday. His family members are inconsolable."

Jitendra Singh told Republic that he has taken up the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and has sent a written communication to the MEA division concerned to facilitate the repatriation.