An Indian man Vamshi Reddy Chinta Reddy, who was in the country for the last nine years and was currently on an essential skill work visa and had died in Christchurch last week, will be repatriated back home on Friday, August 19.
43-year-old Vamshi Reddy was a native of Hyderabad (Telangana state) in India and had first come to New Zealand nine years ago on a student visa and was currently working as a dairy farm manager in Ashburton.
It was only recently, in June 2022, that his visa was renewed, and a new Essential Skill Work Visa was stamped till 2025.
The Indian Weekender has reliably learned that Vamshi is being repatriated on Friday, August 19 and will be reaching Hyderabad on August 21, where his old parents are waiting anxiously to see him for one last time before the final send-off.
Vamshi’s elder brother is based in the United States of America, and he was the first one in the family to be informed of the terrible news of the tragic death of his younger brother.
Many community leaders have been coordinating with the local authorities, including police, coroner, the High Commission of India in Wellington, the family back in India and state government authorities from the Indian state of Telangana.
Among those who have been actively involved in coordinating and providing support on the ground, one is Auckland-based business leader and community leader Siva Killari.
Siva has been actively involved for the last three days, including travelling to the deceased’s house in Ashburton and, doing necessary paperwork with police funeral home and coordinating with Hon Consul of India Bhav Dhillon and the office of the Indian High Commission.
Speaking with Indian Weekender, Mr Killari said, “I flew down to Ashburton as soon as someone from the community called me seeking help to arrange for repatriation of Vamshi Reddy.”
“We have managed to get a death certificate last night and necessary paperwork from the office of the Indian High Commission that is now being sent to Ashburton as we speak.”
“Necessary funds for travel arrangements are being generated with the help of the office of the Indian High Commission and fundraising by three community organisations, NZ Telugu Association (NZTA), Telangana Association of New Zealand (TANZ) and Mana Andhra Telugu Association (MATA).
Jagan Vodanala, President of NZ Telangana Rashtra Samithi Party, was also speaking with the family and next of kind back in India.
“This is very unfortunate news for the parents and family of Vamshi back in India, and we express our sincere condolences,” Mr Vodanala said.
Senior leader of Telangana community Kalyan Rao Kasuganti (Telangana Federation of New Zealand) also expressed condolences on the death of Vamshi Reddy.
"This is tragic time for the family and we are committed to extend all possible support from our end," Mr Kasuganti said.
Anitha Mogilicharla and Suneel Kuncha, President and Secretary of NZ Telugu Association, also told the Indian Weekender that they were rallying the members of the community to support the fundraising initiative to contribute towards the repatriation cost for Vamshi Reddy.
Hon Consul of India Bhav Dhillon said, “This is very unfortunate news for our diaspora communities, and our office of the Indian High Commission is regularly in touch with the parents back in India and next of kin here in Ashburton and extending all possible help on the ground.
A Givealttle page has been set up and a community appeal is out to raise funds for bearing repatriation costs for Vamshi Reddy. (https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/fund-raise-for-a-diseased-vamshi-reddy-body)