This family in Hanchinal village in Basavanbagewadi taluk has seen two tragedies in less than two months.
Basanagouda Biradar, the eldest son of the family, died in mysterious circumstances in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on December 10.
“While we were awaiting the body of my brother, my father, Ravutappa, died 10 days ago as he could not bear the pain of this tragedy,” Vinod Kumar, the brother of the deceased, said on Thursday.
A college student, Mr. Vinod Kumar, said that they received the news about the death of Basanagouda from one of his friends. He said that his 27-year-old brother had gone to Riyadh as a driver a year ago.
“It was not making sense when we heard the news of his death. First, we were told that he had died of heart attack inside his room.
Later, his friend sent a photograph of my brother in hospital with severely burnt legs and lower chest,” Mr. Vinod Kumar said. He said that the family had been running from pillar to post to get his body from the foreign soil.
“We have written to Union Minister Ananth Kumar and the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa who recently visited the district. We are in constant touch with Ramesh Jigajinagi, MP, too. But so far, expect rendering lip service, he has not done anything. Only Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep responded immediately. He wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi,” he said.
Mr. Vinod Kumar said that despite sending required documents to the Ministry, the family had not received the body yet.
“We cannot afford to visit Riyadh. We wish to see our brother for the last time before performing his last rites here,” he said.
