Body of Uttarakhand man killed in Turkey quake brought home, cremated

Kotdwar (Uttarakhand), February 13

The body of 36-year-old Vijay Kumar Gaud, who died in last week’s devastating earthquake in Turkey, was flown to Delhi on Monday morning and cremated in Kotdwar.

Gaud’s body was handed over to his family members in Delhi who then brought it to Muktidham here for the last rites, Devendra Nawani, a relative, told PTI.

A resident of the Padampur area of Kotdwar in Pauri district, Gaud worked for a Bengaluru-based company and was in Turkey on an official assignment. He went missing after the massive earthquake hit Turkey on February 6.

His body was found on Saturday in the rubble of a hotel in the Turkish city of Malatya, where he was staying.

Quoting Indian embassy officials, the family had earlier said that Gaud was identified by an “Om” tattoo on his hand. His face was crushed beyond recognition.

Gaud is survived by his wife and a six-year-old son.