Kuwait fire: Families, friends bid farewell to 4 more victims

Thiruvananthapuram/Kannur/Kottayam: Heartbreaking scenes unfolded as the funerals of four more victims of the devastating fire at NBTC Group’s housing facility in Kuwait were held amid large gatherings on Saturday. The body of Sajan George (29) was kept at his home in Punalur, Kollam for the public to pay homage in the morning. Later, it was taken to Narikkal Marthoma church after rituals and laid to rest in the cemetery. Sajan’s body had arrived home on Friday but was kept at the Punalur taluk hospital mortuary awaiting his sister’s arrival from Australia. Sajan had gone abroad just 45 days ago after securing a job as a junior engineer.Lukose, from Velichikkala near Adichanalloor in Kollam, was laid to rest at Pooyappally St Thomas Marthoma Church. Hundreds gathered at his home to pay homage. Lukose had planned to return home next month and had bought a mobile phone to gift his daughter, who had achieved excellent results in her Plus-II examinations. Lukose had worked as a supervisor at NBTC Group for 18 years. He leaves behind his wife Shiny, two children, Lydia and Louis, and his elderly parents.Aneesh Kumar from Kuruva in Kannur was cremated at a public crematorium in Payyambalam. His sons, Ashwin and Adarsh, lit the funeral pyre. Aneesh’s body was transported by ambulance from Kochi airport to Kannur on Friday evening. It was received by the ADM Naveen Kumar and then moved to Kannur AKG Hospital mortuary. Hundreds paid homage at his home before the final rites were performed at Payyambalam public crematorium. Aneesh, who had worked in Kuwait for 25 years, had last visited his home in May and was planning to return permanently. He was among the three Kannur natives who died in the fire. The funerals of Nithin Kuthoor, from Vayakkara, and Vishwas Krishna, from Darmadom, took place on Friday. Nithin was cremated at the public crematorium in Vayakkara, while Vishwas was cremated on his house premises.Hundreds paid homage to Akash Sasidharan Nair (32) from Mudiyoorkonam near Pandalam in Pathanamthitta as well. Among those who paid tribute were minister Saji Cherian, deputy speaker Chittayam Gopakumar, and MP Anto Antony. Akash's body arrived home in the morning and he was cremated on his residential premises. Akash, a warehouse coordinator for the NBTC group, had been working in Kuwait for eight years and was residing on the fourth floor of the building with three friends. Akash, a bachelor, last visited home a year ago and is survived by his mother, Shobha Kumari, and sister, Swathi S Nair.
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