Body of S'porean killed in Mumbai expected back anytime from Sunday
By Asha Popatlal and Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 November 2008 2009 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The body of the Singaporean killed in the Mumbai siege is expected back anytime from Sunday, according to family members.

For those closest to the 28-year-old lawyer, described as passionate, kind and a good mix of brains and beauty, the impact of what had happened is still sinking in.

"My father is upset because she is the eldest daughter of our family, but these kind of things just happen, no one had any way of predicting anything. So it's still a bit of a shock right now,” said Lo Hwei Shan, the younger sister of the victim.

Lo Hwei Yen's two younger sisters never thought they would be put in the position of having to take care of her funeral arrangements.

“My younger sister and I last saw my elder sister with my brother-in-law when we went for a musical Avenue Q recently. It was good to see her really happy and enjoying life because she was the kind of person who lived life to the fullest. And she made everyone around her really happy, because she's (a) very driven, very passionate person," said Lo Hwei Shan.

And it is not just family members who mourn her.

Friends, ex-colleagues and university mates recalled her bubbly personality.

"She's got such a good balance of everything - of brains, of beauty and… kindness and sense of humour. And she's just... she's so much promise in life and she's a beautiful person," said a friend, Lavinia Rajah.

Ms Lo's wake will be held at her family home, with her funeral expected on Thursday.

Her family has not yet decided on the final location of her ashes.

In a separate report, two flights from Mumbai landed at Changi Airport Saturday evening.

Passengers Channel NewsAsia spoke to say the situation is still tense in the city amid heightened security.

"Chaos, because there is a lot of fear in the mind… People are willing to go out, but when you go to malls or hotels, you can see that occupancy rates and the kind of crowd you are generally accustomed to seeing… are considerably lower... People prefer, at least for the time being, to stay indoors," said a passenger, Nitesh Khirwal.

Another passenger, Sam Lakha, said: "Am I going to be… looked upon as a Muslim or stuff like that? No. I don't think Bombay has that mentality, attitude… you won't be singled out or anything like that because they know very well… because of a few people, they can't blame an entire community or society."

- CNA/yt