Siddharth Murkumbi, 23, a marketing student at the University of Central Lancashire (UClan) in UK went missing on March 15. Police found his body on the banks of a river. His parents in Pune are now caught in the coronavirus lockdown desperate to get back the body for a last glimpse of their son.
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Siddharth’s father Shankar Murkumbi has appealed to the UK government to immediately release the body for final rites as he this is the least he deserves as his last wish and his mother deserves a last hug.
However, Siddharth’s parents have been unable to either get his mortal remains back for the last rites or travel to the UK to collect it themselves due to the ongoing travel ban due to coronavirus.
Describing his son as a boy who liked living life king-size Shankar Murkumbi, 57, told India Today TV that in this time of unbearable tragedy he faces unexpected challenges of not being to travel.
Police suspect Siddharth had committed suicide. Shivam, Siddharth’s senior at same university had met him just two days before the incident and said he could never imagine that he is capable of contemplating suicide.
Preston City, sitting on the north side of River Ribble running through North Yorkshire and Lancashire in North of England, is considered to be the suicide capital of England. It’s been reported that a person takes their own life every 17 days in Preston, putting the city’s suicide rate above national average.
We received information from the police that Siddharth’s body was found on the banks of River Ribbie and it was taken to the mortuary at Royal Preston Hospital where the coroner process is being completed, said Shankar.In the UK a coroner is a government official who conducts an inquest into the manner and cause of death.
The coroner from Royal Preston Hospital has since written to Shankar asking him to confirm if he would like to attend the inquest. However, all inquests have been cancelled till September.
As the family cannot attend the procedure, the paperwork will be completed and the body will be released for cremation in a few weeks, which is expected soon.
However, the family has since decided not to attend the coroner’s inquest and delay the process. They have appealed though that Siddharth’s mortal remains be returned to them at the earliest for conducting funeral rights.
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