Thiruvananthapuram | The ashes of the 22-year-old nursing assistant from Kannur who lost her life in a train accident in Japan, will reach Keralam only by Thursday, NORKA Roots has said.

The ashes of V Devika, a native of Iritti Padiyur in Kannur district, were initially expected to reach Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday at 2.30 am, but has been delayed by a day, NORKA Roots said in a statement issued late Tuesday night.

It said that a detailed statement on the matter will be issued later.

Devika had died on September 2 after being hit by a train near Kakamigahara in Gifu Prefecture of Japan, NORKA Roots, the official welfare and coordinating agency for Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) under the Keralam government, said in a statement.

Since the body could not be brought back to the country, the cremation was carried out in Japan with the permission of the family and with the help of the Union Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy and representatives of Keralite organisations, it said.

NORKA Roots said that it prepared and submitted the necessary documents for cremation of the body, repatriation of the ashes, and coordination of further steps, as instructed by the chief minister.

Devika, who had completed her lab technician course, had joined a social welfare institution in Japan as a nursing assistant six months ago.

Following Devika's disappearance, her relatives had filed a complaint with the Chief Minister and others.

It was during this time that information was received that she had been found dead after being hit by a train, the statement said.