Dubai man pays tribute to 'perfect' wife killed in Sri Lanka bombings
The story was originally published on www.thenational.ae and was covered by Thufail Muhammad
The husband of Razeena Kukkady, a Dubai resident who was killed in Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings last month, said that his life would never be the same after the tragedy.
The National reported last month that Razeena, 60, was at breakfast at the five-star Shangri-La hotelwhen two suicide bombers detonated their devices in one of a series of attacks on three hotels and three churches in the capital Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa.
At least 250 people died, including children and 42 foreign nationals.
(Abdul Khader Kukkady: Photo-thenational.ae)
Razeena, whose family are from India, grew up in Sri Lanka but later moved to Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai with her husband, Abdul Khader Kukkady, 69.
“Life without Razeena will not be the same again. Not remotely even similar,” Abdul Khader said at a remembrance gathering for mourners in Dubai on Friday.
“She was perfect in every sense and always craved for excellence. She did not wish ill on anyone.
“Many people have tried to comfort me by saying, ‘God calls back early the people he loves the most’. But that’s no answer for such a tragic end to her life.
(Abdul Khader Kukkady with his daughter Farah and son Khanfer talks about his wife Razeena: Photo-thenational.ae)
“She was very, very special. She took care of the lives of so many people. She had a lot more to offer to her community. People tell me her death makes her a shaheed (martyr), but for what cause?”
Their daughter Farah Kukkady, 35, a management consultant who lives in Texas, also paid tribute to her mother.
“My mother struck a bond with everyone irrespective of their age, social or economic status,” Farah said.
“She would forgive people, even if they were extremely rude to her. She had lots and lots of love. She had a great ear for music. She picked up new languages easily.”
The couple had been holidaying in Sri Lanka for just over a week and on the morning of the attack, Abdul Khader flew back to his job as a project director in Dubai.
Razeena was days away from her 61st birthday and was scheduled to fly to India the following day.
Abdul Khader was told of his wife’s death when his flight landed. He flew back to Sri Lanka that day with his brother and nephew and said it was the toughest journey he had ever taken.
“So many thoughts crossed my mind during the trip. My immediate reaction was anger and rage rather than grief,” he said.
“When I then saw my beautiful Razeena lying motionless, I was shell-shocked. She had a smile on her face and there were no apparent scars.
"I was furious at myself, and at the people who had done this. I felt helpless but I couldn’t cry.”
Security lapses have been blamed for the attacks, which were carried out by an ISIS-linked group, and Abdul Khader criticised the Shangri La-for a lack of security checks.
“There was absolutely no security there – zero security,” he said. "It’s totally beyond me that the attackers could check in to a hotel room and stay there overnight with explosives.”
Razeena was buried the day after the attack at a mosque in Colombo, in a ceremony attended by the couple’s friends and family.
Their son Khanfer, 38, an engineer who lives in California, and Farah arrived the day after the funeral and were upset that they had been unable not see their mother one last time to say a proper farewell.
Khanfer spoke to her by phone half an hour before the attack.
Abdul Khader, a soft-spoken man, said he could finally “cry his soul out” after he being reunited with his children.
They are planning to launch an initiative in his late wife Razeena’s memory, although they are yet to decide on details.
(Razeena Kukkady's daughter Farah: Photo-thenational.ae)
The premature death of the cherished wife and devoted mother has left a big void in the lives of her family, and her son dreads to think about the impact it will have on his two-year-old daughter.
“Mila developed a great bond with my mum when she visited us in the US last November," he said.
"She is always asking me to show her the pictures that her grandma has sent her. Now if she asks and I don’t show her, she will get upset."
Courtesy: www.thenational.ae
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
