The body of an Indian national in Saudi Arabia has been lying in a mortuary for more than five months awaiting repatriation, media reported.
Ali Hussain, 65, an Indian carpenter, died following a massive heart attack in Hofuf in Eastern Province June 17, the Saudi Gazette reported Tuesday.
His son, Saddam, who works in Jubail as a labourer, has been striving to fulfill his 55-year-old mother's wish to see her husband for one last time.
Saddam's mother and six siblings have been desperately waiting for the mortal remains of the deceased man.
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"All paperwork to repatriate the body has been completed, but the sponsor is dilly-dallying," Saddam was quoted as telling the newspaper.
"The last time I managed to talk to my late father's sponsor was about a week ago. Since then he has stopped answering my phone calls," he said.
The Indian embassy has taken up the matter with the Saudi authorities concerned, said Hifzur Rahman, first secretary, political, information and education.
"We issued the no objection certificate in October. We have asked the Al-Ahsa police chief to expedite the process and to either repatriate the body or bury it here," he said.
Before Ali Hussain died, he along with 13 other co-workers had filed a case with the labour office against his sponsor, who had not paid their salaries for four months. His iqama (residence permit) had also expired, the report said.
Sources say clearance for repatriation or burial cannot be given until the case is settled.
Ali Hussain came to the country 17 years ago and joined a company based in Al-Khobar in Eastern Province as a carpenter. He worked in various projects in Al-Khobar and Khafji.
But since the last four years, he had been working in Al-Ahsa.
He was the lone breadwinner of a family of seven. Then his eldest son, Saddam, joined him. Now Saddam looks after the needs of the family which includes his school-going younger brother and three unmarried sisters.