Body of Chennai youth killed in Kashmir reaches home in Avadi

The body of 25-year-old Thirumani, the tourist who was killed in a stone-pelting incident in Kashmir, was brought back to his home in Avadi in Thiruvallur district on Tuesday around 9.30 pm. 

He was wounded when locals pelted stones at the bus he was travelling in at Narbal on the Srinagar-Gulmarg road. He had injured his nose and forehead and was rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

State minister and local MLA K Pandiarajan — who was one among the first to visit the deceased’s house — paid his respects to Thirumani and offered condolences to the bereaved. He said, “It is an unfortunate accident. It is distressing that he got caught in the pelting by the agitators. We can only be with the family in their moment of grief.”  Pandairajan added, “The state and the Jammu and Kashmir government have given a compensation of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively. The chief minister of J&K Mehbooba Mufti had also met the family to apologise for the mishap.” 

Thirumani’s father Rajavel said, “We had gone there (Kashmir) on Sunday and checked into a hotel. On Monday our vehicle was attacked around 8am.” 

Speaking about the government’s help, he said, “The Jammu and Kashmir CM and other officials came and helped us. Mufti also apologised to us. She said she will do everything for us. I am very touched by the gesture.” 

Thirumani’s sister, Sangeetha, was inconsolable and said that she was the last person he spoke to before succumbing to his injuries at the hospital. “He asked me for food when he was conscious on Monday evening but before I could get him anything, the doctors took over and that’s the last I heard from him.” 

Read more: Grief-stricken relatives throng Thirumaniselvam's house

Thiruvallur District Collector Soundaravalli and Tamil Maanila Congress President G K Vasan also visited the family. 

Thirumani, who worked as an analyst in Accenture in Shollinganallur, was on an eight-day holiday. He was accompanied by his father Rajavel, mother Selvi and sister Sangeetha. His bus came under attack en route to the popular tourist retreat of Gulmarg. 

His body was brought from Srinagar to Delhi and flown to Chennai before reaching Avadi on Tuesday. The unexpected death saw shocked friends and family gather at the youth’s home in Karimedu Anna Nagar in Muthapudupet.