Mangalore, Dec 16: The body of Jacintha Saldanha, the Indian origin nurse who was found dead following a hoax call to a London hospital treating Kate Middleton, arrived at Bajpe airport here today.
Her husband Benedict Barboza, her daughter and son accompanied the body, which arrived by a Jet Airways flight from Mumbai and was received by the family members, including her younger sister.
The body was then shifted to an ambulance and taken to Manipal hospital, Udupi, to be kept at the mortuary.
Her body will be kept in Our Lady of the Health Church at Shirva in Udupi district for two hours for the public to pay homage before the funeral service there at 4 PM tomorrow.
Saldanha (42) had transferred a prank call from two DJs of an Australian radio station, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to a colleague who described in detail Kate's condition during her stay for severe pregnancy sickness.
She was found hanging in her nurses' quarters at King Edward VII's hospital by a colleague and a security guard on December 7.
An inquest on December 13 heard that Saldanha was found hanging by the neck from a scarf on a wardrobe door in her room near the hospital. She also had injuries on one of her wrists. Two notes were found in her room and another in her possessions.
Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes told reporters at the airport, "We have been waiting for a long time for the body to come so that we can share the sorrow. I have been to their house. They were touched. It is very sentimental for them.
They don't want even to talk to media and we should respect that."
He said the Indian government has been very proactive in the case and they needed to know what caused Jacintha to take the extreme step.
The Australians DJs had said they did not intend to cause it, but the question was about sensitivity.
"Even the media in Shirva cooperated with the family and they have been very helpful. We will express our disappointment with Australia. Impersonation is a serious thing. We will take it up with the foreign affairs ministry," he said.
Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda also visited Jacintha's residence at Shirva and conveyed his condolences.
"Jacintha's untimely death is very unfortunate. Injustice has been meted out to Indians abroad. The Centre and state should take action," he said.
