Indian dies of heart attack after blast in Iraq

The strife in Iraq just got very personal for the family of Shrawan Kumar — from a village in Sikar district — who died of a heart attack in Najaf, a city in the war-torn Gulf country.

The strife in Iraq just got very personal for the family of Shrawan Kumar — from a village in Sikar district — who died of a heart attack in Najaf, a city in the war-torn Gulf country.

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Sources said that the 35-year-old died on June 19 when he suffered a heart attack due to a bomb blast close to where he was staying with 15 other Rajasthanis – all of them stranded in Najaf.

His family is now running from pillar to post, trying to find a way to bring his body back to India.

Kumar was the only son of his parents and is survived by his wife and two sons. He had gone to Iraq four months ago in search of better livelihood.

“Someone called us up from Najaf, informing us that Kumar had passed away and they were stranded. We have written to the Union external affairs minister to ensure the body is returned to the family,” Salvindra Singh Soheta, district collector, Sikar told HT.

The collector added Kumar was part of a group of 15 workers who have reportedly been deserted by the company for which they worked.

According to a survey by the Sikar district administration about 55 people from the district are stranded in Iraq.

The state government has formed a state level coordination centre for helping the families of those stranded in Iraq. The centre has been formed under Overseas Placement Bureau of Rajasthan Skill and Livelihood Development Corporation. The centre in-charge BK Bhargava can be contacted at 0141-5103248, 7726007935 and email info@opbraj.org.