Gloom descends on family of Indian killed in Nigeria

A pall of gloom descended on the family of Kevalkumar Kalidas Rajput, the Indian national who died in the terrorist attack in the Nigerian city of Kano on Friday.

The 23-year-old, son of Kalidas Rajput, hailed from Ranivav extension of Devagarh Baria tehsil in Dahod district of Gujarat.

The death of Kevalkumar, who had gone to Nigeria about 10 months ago, has come as a shock to his family.

"Kevalkumar, our youngest son, was working for a Kano based chemical company Relchem since March last year. He had gone there especially for us," an emotional Kalidas Rajput told PTI.

"He (Kevalkumar) and his few co-employees lost their lives probably when their car entered a zone of hostilities," he said.

The victim was the youngest in the family, amongst four sisters, of which one is handicapped, and one elder brother, he added.

Rajput said that his family has approached various authorities to bring back Kevalkumar's body.

"We have approached the Indian Embassy, government of India, and Gujarat government to bring back his body to his home town," he said.

At least 162 people died in the terror attack, triggered by a group of militants belonging to an Islamic sect, who carried out a wave of coordinated bombings and gun attacks in Kano on Friday.

Six other Indian nationals, including two small children, belonging to two families have received injuries from falling shrapnel and debris and are being treated in Kano hospitals.