Kasargod MP lost 49 from his constituency in crash

KASARGOD - For last two days Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP P. Karunakaran has been going from house to house in his constituency Kasargod in Kerala, consoling the grief stricken relatives of the victims of Saturday’s Mangalore air crash.

“It is the most painful moment in my political life. I lost 49 people in my constituency. Majority of them are poor,” Karunakaran told IANS.

“Some of them were on the way to attend marriages… Some were coming after a long time to see their relatives,” he said.

The 65-year-old MP said he had visited the houses of 48 victims in the constituency. “I am on the way to visit the last person’s house,” he said.

“There are no words to console the relatives and friends. Nothing can compensate the loss of life,” said Karunakaran, 65.

Karunakaran said bodies of eight victims were yet to be identified.

“Relatives are waiting for the DNA result…Imagine what pain they bear in their hearts,” said Karunakaran, who reached Mangalore soon after hearing the news of tragedy Saturday.

Some of the families have lost more than one member, he said.

He said the Karnataka administration, particularly the police and medical teams, did efficient relief work.

“All of them cooperated extremely well,” said Karunakaran, who is also the deputy leader of the CPI-M in Lok Sabha.

The Air India Express flight IX 812 from Dubai overshot the runway while landing at the Bajpe airport, about 20 km from Mangalore, early Saturday and caught fire after plunging about 300 metres off a cliff.

All passengers were Indians, many returning home from Dubai where they worked. Among the 158 dead were 19 children and four infants.