Kabul Attack: Two auditors, NGO worker among victims

George was a private auditor from Kochi. His family members said he had been working as an auditor in Kabul for the last three years.

On Wednesday night, they said, George called up his son in Pune to inform him about the attack. George reportedly said he was safe and hiding under a cot. Later, when the family members in Kochi called him back, there was no response.

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Bhatti, 64, a resident of Chandigarh, was also a part of an eight-member group of auditors, sent to Kabul by the Institute of Public Auditors in January on a UN mission for six months. He was staying at the guest house that was attacked.

“My father was completing his assignment in Kabul and was scheduled to return next month. I spoke to him yesterday, and he seemed excited about his coming trip to the US. He had booked the flight tickets and was going to stay with my younger brother there,” said his son, Naveen Kumar Bhatti.

The family was informed about his death by the Afghan embassy in Delhi.

“After we got the call from the Afghan embassy, my sister left for New Delhi to receive the body. An official from the Ministry of External Affairs also contacted us in the evening. We requested them to send the body to Chandigarh, and they have assured that it will be here tomorrow,” said Naveen.

Bhatti retired as a senior deputy accountant general of Punjab in 2011.

“He was very active and always kept himself busy,” said Madhur Mathur, a neighbour. Bhatti’s family said he planned to set up a school in Barwala for the poor.

Farrell was an NGO worker.