Kochi: A couple from near Perumbavoor in Kerala was among the 62 people killed on Saturday in a plane crash in Russia's Rostov-on-Don city, officials said.
The couple -- Shyam Mohan and his wife K.A. Anju, both aged 27 -- worked in an ayurvedic resort in Russia and had left from here on Thursday.
C.V. Issac, a resident of Vengoal in Perumbavoor, who reached the home of the Mohans told IANS it was around 2 p.m. that they got the tragic news of the air crash.
"Both of them are trained ayurveda nurses and their marriage took place here on November 2, 2014. It was their first visit (to Kerala) after they both went to Russia. They were here for a month and they left for Dubai from here on Thursday afternoon," said Issac.
Anju has been working in Russia since 2011 and it was after their marriage in 2014 that Mohan also joined her.
Local legislator Saju Paul told IANS that Mohan's residence was in his constituency and he was reaching there soon.
"We have lost two Indian nationals Shyam Mohan and his wife Anju Aiyappan of Ernakulam in the crash of FlyDubai flight in Russia," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
tweeted.
"Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. President Putin has also conveyed his condolences. Indian Embassy in Moscow will provide all assistance to the family,"
she said.
"His father is a carpenter and Mohan was the mainstay of his family, so was Anju, whose father passed away," the legislator said.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told IANS that he spoke to Mohan's father and has assured all help to see how best the state government can help the grieving families.
"I will speak to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj seeking her help to see what can be done," added Chandy.
Flydubai Boeing 737 was making its second attempt to land in bad weather when it missed the runway, erupting in a huge fireball as it crashed and leaving debris scattered across a wide area.
There were 55 passengers and seven crew members on board at the time of the crash. Russian investigators confirmed that all 62 people on board were killed.
Other passengers killed the accident include: 44 Russians, 8 Ukrainian and one from Uzbekistan.
Agencies
