All steps taken to bring home body of Soumya killed in rocket attack, says Muraleedharan

IDUKKI: All steps are being taken to bring home the body of Soumya Santhosh (31) killed in a rocket attack in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, where she has been working as a nurse, said Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.

The minister said that he had spoken to Soumya's family and promised all possible help. Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose has written to Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy to repatriate her body.

Soumya, a native of Keerithodu in Idukki, died yesterday. She has been working in Israel for the past seven years. She was looking after a lady in Ashkelon. Sources said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has now become a subject of growing concern for the Kerala nurses who work there as caregivers.

Recalling the incident, Santhosh said they were speaking on a video call and suddenly he heard a huge noise and there was no answer from the other side.

"After a while, I could hear loud noise of some people there as the video call was connected. Later, I was informed that she along with a few others had died," told Santhosh.

"We had told her to go to another place and she was taking care of an elderly lady. On Tuesday, while being on my call, she called the son and daughter of the lady.

The son had told her to get ready and he will come to take her. And she had packed the bags of her's and the elderly lady and was about to have some kanji (gruel) as she was doubtful of getting such food to the area she was moving," said Santhosh.

"Now she has gone and that's it," he added.