‘Son Awaits Her Call’: Husband of Indian Nurse Killed in Israel

It generally takes four to seven days to bring back the body of a person who died abroad. Here it might take longer.

File photo of Soumya Santosh.

(Photo Courtesy: Ido Daniel/Twitter)

The death of Soumya Santhosh, the 31-year-old caregiver in Ashkelon in Israel has left her family members in Keerithode panchayat in Idukki district in Kerala, shattered.

Soumya’s mother Savithri was weeping, unable to finish her words. Her brother, Sajesh told TNM that they were devastated and in talks with the government over bringing Soumya’s body back. “We were told by the authorities that they would bring the body here if there is any chance left for that,” Sajesh told TNM.

Her husband Santhosh, also a resident of Keerithodu, is struggling to console their nine-year-old son, Adorn Santhosh, who could not cope with the situation. “He is awaiting her call,” Santhosh told reporters in Idukki, while holding back his tears.

Had Never Imagined Such a Tragic End

The young woman who had been living in Israel for the past eight years, lost her life on Tuesday, 11 May, in a deadly rocket attack. The tensions brewing between Israel and Hamas, a militant outfit in Palestine, had escalated in the past few days, with both sides indulging in rocket strikes.

Though Soumya had often shared her anguish with her family about massive firings in Israel, the family had never imagined such a tragic end.

Soumya was the daughter of Savithri and Satheesan of Keerithode in Idukki. Both Savithri and Satheesan are former ward members of the Keerithode Panchayat. The family that has struggled to be financially stable, found some solace after Soumya got a job in Israel around 8 years ago.

Both Satheesan and Savithri are Congress members. Satheesan is a tailor while Savithri would go for daily labour under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Sajesh, her elder brother, is a conductor in a private bus. The family lives in a small asbestos roofed house, it was only a few years ago that Soumya and Santhosh were able to buy a house for themselves.

“Soumya’s income was a huge relief for the family. It was that which helped the family to marry off her sister Sanupriya,” Anit Joshy, Kathippara ward member and a friend of Savithri told TNM.

“Savithri Chechi used to bring Soumya’s kid Adorn with her to the panchayat office to take care of him as Soumya was away in Israel. Santhosh’s two sisters too were in Israel. They took Soumya with them. The last time she came on a holiday to India was two years ago,” Anit added.

Soumya’s death has come as a shock to the people in the neighbourhood. “She is just one and a half years older than her sister. Hence, when she was a toddler, many in the village helped her mother in raising her. When I visited Savithri’s home now, even the other women were there, crying as they lost their child. Soumya was soft-spoken and we all used to like her,” Anit said.

The tragedy happened as Soumya was planning her return to Kerala, ending years of toil in the Israeli city, for a better life back home.

On a Video Call

On Tuesday afternoon while Soumya was on a video call with her husband, telling him about the tense atmosphere in the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, the missile struck the house she was working in, and she breathed her last.

As she was sharing the details of the war-like situation prevailing in the area, Santhosh heard a huge sound on the other end.

Her phone, which was still connected, had fallen down.

“I uttered “hello, hello” over the phone, but there was no response from the other side. After a minute-and-a-half, I could hear the noise of some people on the other end. The phone was still connected,” Santhosh said.

Sensing danger, Santhosh immediately alerted his family members, who got in touch with Soumya's friends in Ashkelon and came to know of her tragic demise.

‘It Might Take Longer’

The Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Tuesday said that the Indian embassy authorities in Tel Aviv are making efforts to bring Soumya's mortal remains to India.

Muraleedharan, who spoke to Indian Ambassador to Israel Sanjeev Kumar Singla over phone, said the Israeli authorities will hand over the body to India after completing all the formalities there.

"Spoke with the family of Ms Soumya Santhosh to convey my deep condolences at her tragic demise during the rocket attacks from Gaza today. Assured all possible assistance. We have condemned these attacks and the violence in Jerusalem, and urged restraint by both sides", Muraleedharan said in a tweet.

A source in the minister’s office told TNM that the dead body was handed over to the Indian Embassy in Israel.

However, there are concerns as the Tel Aviv airport in Israel was shut on Tuesday after the rocket strike by the Hamas group from the Gaza strip.

“Usually under normal circumstances, it would take four to seven days to bring back the body of a person who died in a foreign country. In this case, there are chances, it might take longer,” said sources.

“We are in touch with the Indian Embassy in Israel to ensure that the mortal remains of Soumya Santhosh who was killed in Israel is brought back to Kerala and handed over to her family as soon as possible. Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Soumya,” Chief Minister-Designate Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said he has written to Indian ambassador to Israel, urging him to take steps to bring home the body of Soumya.

(This story was first published in The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)