Shillong Oct 16: Lok Sabha MP from Shillong constituency, Vincent H Pala on Wednesday informed that if everything went as per plan, the mortal remains of Archbishop Dominic Jala may be transported on Saturday from USA to reach Guwahati by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Pala is in USA to coordinate with officials of the Indian Embassy in San Francisco, USA and speed up the process of bringing the mortal remains from California to Shillong.

People in Meghalaya and other parts of the North East are anxiously waiting for the news about the arrival of the mortal remains of the Archbishop to India, as it has taken almost a week to complete all necessary formalities since the day of the car accident.

“I know many people are anxiously waiting for the news about the body of the Archbishop. But nothing has been finalised as of now. We hope to get the dead body released today (Wednesday) from the government, and handed it over to the agency which will prepare it to be sent to Guwahati directly. If everything goes as per plan, then the body may be transported on Saturday from USA to reach Guwahati by Tuesday or Wednesday,” Pala said.

The Archbishop passed away following a car accident at Colusa County, Oakland in California, USA around 2.20 pm on October 10 (October 11 as per Indian standard time).

Archbishop Jala along with another priest from Kerela, Fr Mathew Vellankal who worked at St Bonaventure, USA, died on the spot, and another priest, Fr Joseph Parekkatt, was injured.

The accident took place when they were on the way to Colusa County after travelling to Clearlake.

The Archbishop had left Shillong for Rome on September 17 for the Ad Limina (meeting of Bishops/Archbishops from different Dioceses with the Pope once in five years).

From Rome, the Archbishop went to USA for a meeting of the International Commission for English Liturgy (ICEL) and to meet some of his priest friends.