Srinagar, April 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has reached out to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, requesting intervention to repatriate the body of Bilal Manzoor Gani, a Kashmiri youth who tragically passed away in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, JKSA’s National Convenor Nasir Khuehami expressed deep sorrow over the death of Bilal, a resident of Sogam Chontiwari in Kupwara district. Bilal had been working as a nursing assistant at Abha International Hospital in Saudi Arabia for the past year and a half.
On Saturday, April 4, Bilal suffered a sudden heart attack and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His untimely demise has cast a pall of grief over his village.
Khuehami described Bilal as a dedicated, hardworking, and kind young man, noting that his loss has left his family and the entire community devastated.
The JKSA has formally raised the issue with the External Affairs Minister, urging him to coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and local authorities to facilitate the return of Bilal’s body to India for a funeral in accordance with his family’s cultural and religious traditions.
The association acknowledged that the process involves various legal formalities, documentation, and coordination with Saudi authorities. They have assured their full cooperation in this matter.
Furthermore, the JKSA expressed its readiness to provide all possible assistance, including coordination with the family, hospital authorities, local contacts, and the relevant diplomatic mission, to ensure that the process is conducted smoothly, swiftly, and with the utmost respect.
The association hopes for an immediate response from the Ministry of External Affairs and commended the ministry’s ongoing efforts to assist Indian citizens in distress abroad.
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