On November 24, two Indians onboard Ali 25, a ship that was docked in a port in Iran, died in a fire accident. But 13 days since the incident, the bodies of Mohan Venkata Appala Naidu (25) from Visakhapatnam and Vikas from Haryana have not been brought back to India. Now, Mohan’s family has written to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, asking India to speak to Iranian officials and help bring his body back.
Mohan and Vikas died reportedly because of a short circuit in the ship at the Asaluyeh port in Iran. Mohan’s family has alleged negligence on the part of the company, and have appealed to Indian authorities to intervene. “My life is totally devastated and it is not possible for me to keep waiting every day to see my son for the last time,” Mohan’s mother Pilla Bhavani has written in her letter to Sushma Swaraj, “I humbly request you to understand my plight as a mother and I kindly request you to take up this matter with the Iranian government and officials to send the body of my son without any delay.”
Mohan is a first generation graduate hailing from Aripaka, a small village in Sabbavaram. He graduated in 2012 from a Chennai based Marine Engineering institute. Since then, he was working as a crew member in a Mumbai based company. Three months back, he joined the Iran based company.
Speaking to TNM, Mohan’s uncle Surya Prakash said, "Officials are not telling us about the exact status of the case, it's been more than 12 days. His mother's health is deteriorating. We demand that officials speed up the procedure."
Manoj Joy, Community Project Manager of Sailors Society, has been in touch with Indian Embassy officials in Iran, and said that the Embassy is speaking to Iranian officials to expedite the matter. “Officials informed us that there is delay in sending his body as the judicial and police authorities are investigating the case since the deaths were unnatural."
However Joy requested the officials for speedy expatriation of the body, considering the trauma of the mother and family of Mohan, since the post-mortem has been done already.
Joy also asked that the Indian Embassy Officials speak to the Iranian officials about getting compensation for the family from the company.
Meanwhile, Indian Embassy Officials in a communication to Joy said that they are in touch with Iranian authorities. “The mortal remains of both the deceased have been shifted to Bushehr. We are in touch with family members and will keep them updated. Our Consulate at Bandar Abbas is also in touch with owner of the ship and local authorities,” they said.