Kupwara youth dies in Saudi Arabia, family seeks urgent help for repatriation

Jahangir Lolabi

Kupwara: A 25-year-old youth from Sogam in the Lolab area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district died of a cardiac arrest in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with his family seeking urgent assistance for repatriation of the body.

The deceased has been identified as Bilal Manzoor Ganie, son of Manzoor Ahmad Ganie, a resident of Sogam, Lolab. He had been in Saudi Arabia for the past one year, where he was pursuing a B.Sc Nursing degree and working in the nursing department at Aaba International Hospital.

According to reports, the incident came to light around 3 pm when his family was informed. After suffering a cardiac arrest, Bilal was rushed to Aaba International Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

The bereaved family has appealed to the authorities to expedite the process of bringing his body back to Kashmir, stating that they are unable to complete the required formalities on their own. They said timely intervention is needed to ensure that the last rites are performed in his native village.

Locals and social activists have also urged the administration to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to facilitate early repatriation.