Missing Indian found dead under debris of a hotel in Malatya in Turkey

ANKARA (Turkey): An Indian national missing since the earthquake in Turkey on February 6 was found dead under the debris of a hotel in Malatya, the Indian Embassy in Turkey informed in a tweet on Saturday. The deceased, identified as Vijay Kumar, was on a business trip to Turkey. The rescue team recovered the body.

The dead body was identified through the tattoo on Vijaya kumar’s hand, followed by his passport found in the morning. A photo sent from the rescue site by family members in Uttarakhand identified Vijay Kumar as a tattoo on his left arm.

On January 23, 2023, Vijay Kumar went to Turkey and stayed on the second floor of Avasar Hotel in Malatya, Turkey. He was supposed to return to India next week after completing the gas pipe installation project near the hotel. Kumar was a native of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand and was working as a gas pipeline installation engineer at OxyPlants India based in Bengaluru at Peenya Industrial Estate.

The Indian Embassy in Turkey has been making arrangements for the early transportation of his mortal remains to his family. Taking to its official Twitter handle, the Indian Embassy in Turkey stated, “We inform with sorrow that the mortal remains of Shri Vijay Kumar, an Indian national missing in Turkiye since February 6 earthquake, have been found and identified among the debris of a hotel in Malatya, where he was on a business trip.”

In another tweet, the Indian Embassy in Turkey stated, “Our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. We are making arrangements for the earliest possible transportation of his mortal remains to his family.”

Earlier on February 8, the Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma had said that ten Indians were struck in remote parts of Turkey after the country was hit by two “biggest natural disaster” earthquakes, but they are safe while one citizen is missing. He made the remarks during the special briefing on ‘Operation Dost.’

“There are 10 individuals who are stuck in some remote parts of the affected area but they are safe. We have one Indian national missing, who was on a business visit to Turkey’s Malatya. And he has not been traced for the last two days. We are in touch with his family and the company in Bengaluru,” Verma said during the special briefing on ‘Operation Dost.’

The death toll from the deadliest quake in the region in two decades stood at more than 24,000 across southern Turkey and northwest Syria four days after it struck. (ANI)