Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 26: Karnataka health minister's humanitarian side gets exemplified time and again. He has repeatedly rushed to the rescue of people in distress, used his good offices to help people facing critical situation, and catered to the urgent needs of the needy.

When Sumana Pai (60) from Ullal, a member of a team undertaking North Indian pilgrimage, died on reaching New Delhi, it was Khadar who came to the family's rescue. Sumana developed health issues on reaching New Delhi and died in a hospital there on May 24. With U T Khadar's timely help, all legal formalities were completed and the body was flown to the city within two days. Her mortal remains reached here on Monday.

Sumana was one among 15 pilgrims led by a person named Srikar Kini, who left Ullal for Haridwar and other pilgrimage centres of North India. After she developed health complications, she was admitted into Sir Gangaram Hospital at Rajindar nagar New Delhi, where she passed away on Sunday.

Sumana Pai is survived by three daughters and a son.

It is learnt that Sumana Pai developed health complications as she could not cope with North Indian food. She developed health issues all of a sudden, and had breathed her last before reaching the hospital. Relatives of Sumana then contacted Khadar seeking help in the matter of completing legal formalities at New Delhi, and getting her body to the city. Khadar immediately got in touch with his contacts in New Delhi, asked them to visit the hospital and help the concerned to complete formalities fast.

Sumana belongs to an economically backward family, and the minister, who kept in touch with the concerned constantly from Bengaluru, ensured that the initial deposit of Rs 5,000 made on Sumana's behalf at the hospital was refunded and she was not charged anything for the services.

Aides of the minister also saw to it that the body was delivered at New Delhi airport by 7.30 am on Monday, and it reached the city at 11.30 am. Khadar, in spite of facing immense pressure of time as he had to attend the cabinet meeting, kept talking to people at New Delhi over the phone and ensured that the family did not face any hardship. By the time Sumana's son-in-law reached the hospital, the minister's assistants had completed all formalities, and all he was asked to do was to sign the papers, it is gathered. With the help of doctors of the hospital, the body was flown to the city on Monday, after which it was cremated at Ullal, it is gathered.