M A I N   N E W S

Oman Cyclone
2 Punjabis among 4 more dead

New Delhi, June 10
Four more Indians have died in the devastating cyclone that hit Oman early this week, taking the toll of Indians to six even as six others remain missing.

The bodies of Prithvi Pal Singh and Prempal Singh (both from Punjab), Anil Kumar of Ottapalam at Palakkad in Kerala and Sarawana Kumar Pillai have been found, minister of state for external affairs E. Ahamed told reporters here.

Details about Pillai is not known as only an ID card has been recovered from his body, he said.

The families of both the Punjabis are settled in Muscat.

Doctors have informed the Indian Embassy that the body of Anil Kumar was in a highly decomposed state and advised them to cremate there, Ahamed said.

Ahamed himself and embassy officials have spoken to the father of Anil Kumar and conveyed the advise of Omanese doctors to him.

The government has also decided to waive for a month the charge of 30 Omanese riyal collected from those in Oman who apply for duplicate passports.

“Many people have lost their passports and so we have decided to waive the charges for a month,” Ahamed said.

Among those missing after the cyclone hit coastal areas on Wednesday are Sajit Kumar, Udayan, Mohammed Ali and Binu, all from Kerala, and Sami from Andhra Pradesh. The name of another missing person from Punjab is not yet known. — PTI