Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — An Indian national who did not visit or call his family back home even once in the last 20 years has been lying in a coma in a Saudi hospital for more than a year. Interestingly the family, which 43-year-old Mohammed Shamshuddin had been avoiding for two long decades, is knocking on all doors for help to get him repatriated.

The family is desperate because the Indian cannot be flown back home except in a stretcher accompanied by a nurse and it will cost them approximately SR20,000. The amount is beyond the means of the family, which is requesting the Indian Embassy and the community for help.

Shamshuddin, a native of Rajanna Sircilla district in Telangana state, was admitted to a private hospital in Dammam following a severe stroke and brain hemorrhage more than a year ago.

All that Shamshuddin can do now is open and shut his eyes. He is being tube-fed and tears roll down his cheek when someone visits him. His misery increases with each passing day.

It was an uphill task to locate Shamshuddin's next of kin because a lack of particulars. His iqama (residency card) was found in his pocket and when his employer details were traced but it was discovered that his iqama had expired a long ago and that he had been living in the Kingdom illegally.

Because of the poor financial conditions of his family, sources said, Shamshuddin continued to stay in the Kingdom doing odd jobs for survival. He could not visit his home country even when his parents died.

His brother who works as a private driver in the Kingdom had tried to meet him several times but Shamshuddin avoided him, they added.

Shamshuddin's illegal status has also been an impediment before his repatriation. In addition, there

was a police case against him for non-payment of car rent. However, the car rental company withdrew the case following the intervention of community worker Nass Vokkam, who also pleaded with the company to get the due amount waived. The company relented after realizing Shamshuddin's condition.