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PIA leaves two coffins behind in New York

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Islamabad, Nov 1 (IANS) The Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) last flight from New York left behind two bodies, booked for Lahore, at the JFK Airport to the utter shock of the waiting family members back home.

Expressing regret, PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said that the mistake was committed by the agency providing luggage handling service to the airline on the ground at JFK Airport.

The PIA expressed solidarity with the mourning families. The two coffins were meant to be flown to Lahore on October 28, Dawn online reported.

PIA said it “regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence on part of the airline’s ground handling agency… and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons”.

It was PIA’s last New York-Lahore flight as it had just suspended the route, so Etihad Airlines had to step in.

A man who was accompanying the body of his brother, and his family members who were waiting in Lahore, left for New York to locate the body after waiting for two days for any remedial step by the PIA.

“The grieved family had been agonised,” said Hasan Mubarak, a relative, who was to receive the body at Lahore airport.

Mubarak said his cousin Nauman Badar, 28, died in the US on October 25. He said the flight arrived at Lahore airport nearly two hours behind its scheduled landing time. And to the utter horror of the waiting family members the body was not found in the luggage area.

They also came across a family from Sialkot who were also trying to find the body of a relative which was expected to reach Lahore by the same flight.

Mubarak said the bodies were enlisted in the cargo list and it was initially found that they were replaced by luggage containing catering items. The bodies lay unattended at JFK Airport for 14 hours and nobody from the PIA knew where they were.

Mubarak said he and his family members contacted the funeral company that had prepared the coffin which actually found the abandoned bodies.

Finally the body of his cousin was retrieved by the funeral company and was being kept in its morgue.

Mubarak said his family members were agonized by the incident. Due to the lack of any commitment by the PIA (as to) how to retrieve the bodies or to transport them to Pakistan, they had to go to New York.

Mubarak’s cousin will be buried in Maryland while the other body was being flown by Etihad Airways to Lahore, PIA’s statement said.

PIA said it would look after the transfer arrangements, adding that “all expenses will be borne by PIA”.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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