19 July,2016 06:07 PM IST | | Faisal Tandel
After Sushma Swaraj tweeted her support to the Gavai family, a private donor also approached them and helped to arrange the last rites of the deceased family members
A day after mid-day reported on the plight of the Gavai family after three of their kin died in a car accident in the US, External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday tweeted her support to the Kalyan family.
Chandan Gavai died in the accident, while his wife Manisha is in coma with severe burns and head injuries
She tweeted that the Indian Consulate would bear all expenses for the cremation of the three deceased, while efforts would be taken to procure insurance and death certificates. But Swapnil and Anand Gavai, who lost their parents and brother Chandan in the accident, have claimed the embassy is yet to respond. In the meantime, the Gavai brothers said a private donor had come to their rescue and the cremation will take place today.
On July 4, Chandan Gavai, along with his parents Kamalnayan and Archana, wife Manisha and son Ibhan, were on their way back from watching the Independence Day fireworks on the beach.
A speeding pickup truck rammed into their car and both the vehicles went up in flames. While Chandan, Kamalnayan and Archana died on the spot, Manisha is in coma with burns and head injuries and Ibhan is out of danger.
Private donor
Anand, a Netherlands resident, claimed that they have received no help from the Indian embassy yet. "The death certificate is issued by the funeral home, so I don't know how the Indian consulate plans to arrange it. I have asked MEA to cross-check their information because I feel they have got it all wrong. In the end, they are taking all the credit by tweeting help. I didn't ask anybody for cash, but support. I'm aware that I am a Dutch citizen, but the victims are Indians."
Speaking about the mystery donor, Anand added, "A private donor, an Indian from Pennsylvania who doesn't want to be named, has paid the funeral expenses at Mangano Funeral Home, NY. He contacted us through Karamveer Dahiya, our lawyer."
