Local blogger English Girl in Oman covered it here last week, pointing out too the condescension oft meted out to working class Indians here in Oman (and throughout the Gulf).
Only in her case it was 'Terminal'. She died (reported to be due to a stress induced cardiac arrest) after being trapped in the airport for 4 days when the embassy couldn't get her emergency travel documents.
Too accurate Movie title for poor Beebi Lumada, who died from stress after being trapped for 4 (or more) days in Muscat airport.Muscat Airport is not somewhere I'd want to be stuck for 4 hours, and that's in the so-called Business Class 'lounge'.
At least the Gulf News dug a little deeper here
MUSCAT (AFP) – An Indian woman died after losing her passport and becoming stranded for about four days at Muscat airport, an Indian embassy official in the Omani capital said on Sunday.
The woman, a housemaid identified as Beebi Lumada, "died of some illness" when she was being taken to hospital, the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that "she was suffering from bouts of hysteria."
She had been trying to fly home to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala, on Qatar Airways via Doha where officials turned her back to Muscat on Monday after she lost her passport.
She was forced to stay in Muscat airport's transit area where she was provided with food, the official said, adding the embassy had been in contact with her but "couldn't get any documents."
"On Friday, her health deteriorated, so she was sent to the Ibn Sina Hospital," but she died en route there in an ambulance, the official said without elaborating on the possible cause of death.
The woman's body was being sent back to India.
Of course, the core story was as told by "an Indian embassy official". They got the report out fast because people notice when a woman dies simply due to being trapped in an airport for 4 or 5 days. Amnesty International were calling for a full Omani investigation into the matter.
His Excellency, Mr Anil Wadhwa (left, wearing suit), Indian Ambassador to Oman, very busy cutting a ribbon opening the new Aster Hospital in Sohar, June 2010 (Photo AMEInfo]. Aster Hospital's slogan is 'Big on Care'. Pity HE The Ambassador didn't pick up a greater degree of care for the fate of his own citizen's while he was at it...Muscat Confidential is reliably informed that many of our local journalists have tried to write about the story (often being Indian themselves) and get some details on this
After all, she was just some poor Indian housemaid, so why should the Embassy get in trouble? This is why the reports from the embassy, including quotes from ace Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, repeatedly stress that Lumada, "suffered from seizures and hysteria". Yeah, right.
Afterall, she'd only been trying to leave Oman, and was left in no-mans land with no contact from the poor helpless Embassy, 'as there was no access for embassy staff to the stranded passenger at the airport.' Oh, and it was, like, a weekend, and the Embassy was too busy attending parties. [note to Ambassador Wadhwa, Hysteria has not been an official psychiatric condition for the past 30 years.]
According to The Indian Express, even the Indian External Affairs Minister can smell a rat, so maybe someone at the Indian Embassy will get some just desserts for such incompetence, as they really did send someone out to investigate.
New Delhi, 12 Oct
The External Affairs Ministry is sending a senior official to Muscat to investigate the case of a woman, who died after being stranded at the airport there for five days after she lost her passport.
"We are sending a senior official of the Ministry to Muscat to conduct an enquiry and report back to me," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters here.
This move comes in the backdrop of reports that embassy officials did not help 40-year-old Keralite Beebi Lumada, a housemaid who was travelling from Muscat to Chennai via Doha by a Qatar Airways flight last week, who lost her passport while in transit at the Doha airport.
...
There is also a very good follow-up on the story by Sunil K. Vaidya in the Gulf News, quoting the Omani Sponsor as saying he had had the housemaid examined before she left at a Government Hospital who found she had "no health issues"; to news of such official good health the outstanding Indian Ambassador reportedly had no comment, despite it being in direct contradiction to his very own statements made earlier.
Yes, it seems no-one really helped her. As a poor Indian in the Gulf, that's perhaps not surprising, unfortunately.
But does the Embassy's inaction mean they have blood on their hands? Their rapid action to use behind the scenes influence to spike the stories many Oman-based journalists have written suggests the Embassy, at least, don't want anyone asking the obvious questions.
I thought IATA laws only allow passengers with passport isssues to stay in transit for 48 hours.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately with Anil Wadhwa he is too busy getting photograped for newspaper shoot!!!
UD
ReplyDeleteAs you have mooted, there appears to be a lot more to this story than what is being told by probably all parties concerned.
While we are all aware of the Indian Ambassador's (albeit unconfirmed) reputation as being somewhat self-serving and only really interested in opening ceremonies and free dinners, I also feel at pains to accept the lady's sponsor's claims that he sent her to a Government Hospital for a check-up before leaving and that all was fine with her. Can this be corroborated with accurate and genuine paperwork?
In all seriousness, is this a requirement for a housemaid leaving the country? I doubt it....
....and with helmet duly donned to protect my head from the probable bombardment of denial from locals about how excellently they treat their "staff", ....is it really the norm for a "sponsor" to go to the trouble of getting a check-up for his "housemaid"? (I use both bracketed terms loosely as we all have our views on what this practice really is.)
Maybe some further investigation work is required.
It is good to see you back.
Strength and apathy!
JD
Tell me one embassy other than US that really bothers with their citizens especially those considered below par. British Embassy doesnt fair any better and it is a well known fact that the Brits are the least protected among the Europeans hence you hear so much about them in papers. Most of these Embassies and Consulates are self serving and ineffectual for their citizens in times of troubles.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot blame Oman Airport for this fiasco cause the same can happen to any of us anywhere in the world and no Port of Entry will allow us entry without valid travel documentation. So this mess lies on the shoulders of the Indian Embassy.
A. A. Ali
Everytime I see the fat greasy puffed up face of the Indian Ambassador aiming to get another free lunch in the papers it makes me wanna cringe. Hardly an event goes by without his mug shot being in it.
ReplyDeleteMy visits to the Indian Embassy in Muscat confirm to me why they could not organise a party in a Muscat massage parlour with a tanker full of Rials!
All they had to do was get on the phone to the Embassy, shout free lunch at airport and a whole bus full would have been there in minutes.
I think that the fact that there have been cases of abuse of household staff by a small minority of locals would mean the Indian Embassy would have proceedures in place to deal quickly with such situations. They obviously don't and appear to have no interest in the lower echelons of their own society. Like JD said only those who can get the ambassadors photo in the paper and a free dinner in that ever expanding stomach!
ReplyDeleteThis is a disgrace and Anil Wadhwa needs to be recalled to Delhi. Hysteria? Really Wadhwa? As Dragon stated, this is not even a recognised medical condition. Wadhwa really never cared for the Indian underclass in Oman. He was always just interested in beating Dr Retnakumar (the veterinarian turned insurance mavin) in the number of times he could get his photo in the papers. Shame on you Wadhwa! You are ultimately responsible for this debacle and you need to lose your job!
ReplyDeleteHI UD, a good article which is for the greater good and of relevance after all, Not about all stupid issues... Good to c u write well again..
ReplyDeleteShe must have got into depression and finally led to hysteria. She felt very insecure and thought of never being able to leave Oman , talk to family or see her folks again in India must have created a panic attack and final cardiac arrest. I feel the main issue here is lack of counseling.
Even if there was delay of getting her exit document, they should have at least explained her properly that there's nothing to fear, she will be back home in few days and she need not worry... Was she given a chance to talk to her folks back in India?
Human life is very precious. Embassy officials should not be so careless.
Lot of investigation is required in this case. Whoever may be at fault, but these type of incidents should not be repeated.
I have seen so many good sponsors here, in some cases the maid is given status of as good as a family member, One of our friends said accent " Hamara ek behen malbari hai" we have a malabari(from Kerala) sister.
But the sponsor in this case seems to be careless again..
But responsibility of Indian Embassy is more than anyone else.
Seems really lot of investigation needs to be done. None needs to lose life, just bcoz few people did not have time to talk properly and work efficiently.
UD
ReplyDeleteThe news is sad indeed.The matter once again throws light on the plight of " workers " from the third world employed in GCC countries and the attitude of the respective Missions towards the less fortunate among their citizens.
Here the Indian Embassy clearly had a duty to care for its citizen, which they did not do.As for the remedies available for the deceased womans heirs 1. They can approach the court for compensation under Tort( the Indian Ministry of External Affairs can adopt several defenses like sovereign immunity and the like) 2.They can approach the High court or the Supreme Court of India under Articles 226 and 32 respectively ( writ jurisdiction)for compensation( this incident can be construed as a violation of several fundamental rights for eg Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution ) , in which proceedings the defenses available to the ministry in an action under Torts, like sovereign immunity, act of state et al will not be available.
Any way the current trend as laid down by several decisions of the Supreme Court and High Courts from the early sixties is to confine the plea of sovereign immunity and act of state to limited areas.So the state don't stand much of a chance either way!Any way this is my understanding of the law and it need not be the correct one.Other views are entirely possible.I know it is a boring ramble about a subject.So sorry.Hope somebody moves the courts.
Hope you have settled comfortably in your new abode
it was really sad to hear about this story, i guess people sitting in embassy should realise that they are here to serve their countrymen and now cutting ribbons and dinners.
ReplyDeleteMr wadhawa seems to be jolly good fellow, but thats not the only quality we need in a good person.
He should speak to the members of the family of the person, he will realise wht wrong has been committed.
True, as JD says. I am aware of atleast 4 housemaids in our neighbourhood, who one can see are visibly ill/need treatment/rest/downtime, but are kept busy around 4-5 obnoxious little kids and 2-3 lazy women around the house. Atleast the households are conservative Omanis, so the male interaction is kept to a minimum, otherwise that'd be even more work.
ReplyDeleteAgain, having personally dealt with the Indian Ambassador, I can say that he is more interested in "who will cover the event?", "have you invited the press?" and his fav "how do I look?". And the whole indian power of Apex publishing wagging its tail behind him.
What did they say about power corrupts?
HE is too busy getting his mugshot in the weekly papers!
ReplyDeleteAn Open Letter to
ReplyDeleteHis Excellency Anil Wadhwa, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman
Dear Sir,
Let me begin with congratulating you on the amount of International press you have garnered over the unfortunate incident of the Indian maid’s death. (After all, any publicity is good publicity) I also join you in condoning the local press that has so far made no attempt to publish anything about the incident. Don’t you wonder why the local press is asleep? After all, this is the same media that is present at all your events and covers all functions – ranging from a restaurant opening to a child’s birthday party – you attend in this sleepy town.
I suggest you take up this matter with utmost urgency and call for a press conference (or media meets as you prefer to call them here in this part of the world) and ask all your loyal propagandists as to why they have been sleeping over this incident.
Ask them: Is the death of a maid not breaking news enough for them? Has it even registered as a news brief, perhaps? Ask them: Why have they as the watchdog of the society not bothered to do their job and call up the embassy and ask for their side of the story?
Had they called up for your statement, you could have told them that this is a simple case of a heart attack that has been blown out of proportion. You could have also told them that the embassy is not responsible for its people’s mistakes in other countries. The maid should not have lost her passport. Why did she travel at all, in fact? It is the maid’s fault entirely, I am sure of that now sir. How dare she expect that her country’s representative, who lives in Oman in a modest mansion that has been paid for by the humble Indian taxpayer, bother to pick up the phone and get her out of No Man’s land.
I sympathise with you completely sir. You are after all the product of a nation that has for long been rotting in its every man/woman for himself-herself and other self-serving filth of an attitude. And what can you really do when your juniors are incompetent (sack them with immediate effect) and did not make you aware of the situation. One cannot even blame them actually. How could they call you away from the various important social events that you were attending on behalf of your country? You were doing your job, rendering peerless and selfless service to your glorious nation.
I fail to understand why the Indian media and organisations such as Amnesty International are crying foul over such a banal matter. A person died. It was fate. She was meant to die. The family lost just another member. There are so many people who lose their lives every day. Death and life are just ways of life.
There were no delays from your end and the very intelligent media (which consists of your fellow country men and women) here understands that. Some of us fellow Indians also see your point of view. Unfortunately, the inconsequentially civilised world and its people do not see it as it is. Hence, I would kindly request you to open your mouth (which has never failed to mesmerise us with long-drawn speeches before and give the world an explanation as to why there is so much hullabaloo about nothing at all!
Sincerely yours
An Indian expat living in Oman
An Open Letter to:
ReplyDeleteHis Excellency Anil Wadhwa, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman
Dear Sir,
Let me begin with congratulating you on the amount of International press you have garnered over the unfortunate incident of the Indian maid’s death. (After all, any publicity is good publicity) I also join you in condoning the local press that has so far made no attempt to publish anything about the incident. Don’t you wonder why the local press is asleep? After all, this is the same media that is present at all your events and covers all functions – ranging from a restaurant opening to a child’s birthday party – you attend in this sleepy town.
I suggest you take up this matter with utmost urgency and call for a press conference (or media meets as you prefer to call them here in this part of the world) and ask all your loyal propagandists as to why they have been sleeping over this incident.
Ask them: Is the death of a maid not breaking news enough for them? Has it even registered as a news brief, perhaps? Ask them: Why have they as the watchdog of the society not bothered to do their job and call up the embassy and ask for their side of the story?
Had they called up for your statement, you could have told them that this is a simple case of a heart attack that has been blown out of proportion. You could have also told them that the embassy is not responsible for its people’s mistakes in other countries. The maid should not have lost her passport. Why did she travel at all, in fact? It is the maid’s fault entirely, I am sure of that now sir. How dare she expect that her country’s representative, who lives in Oman in a modest mansion that has been paid for by the humble Indian taxpayer, bother to pick up the phone and get her out of No Man’s land.
I sympathise with you completely sir. You are after all the product of a nation that has for long been rotting in its every man/woman for himself-herself and other self-serving filth of an attitude. And what can you really do when your juniors are incompetent (sack them with immediate effect) and did not make you aware of the situation. One cannot even blame them actually. How could they call you away from the various important social events that you were attending on behalf of your country? You were doing your job, rendering peerless and selfless service to your glorious nation.
I fail to understand why the Indian media and organisations such as Amnesty International are crying foul over such a banal matter. A person died. It was fate. She was meant to die. The family lost just another member. There are so many people who lose their lives every day. Death and life are just ways of life.
There were no delays from your end and the very intelligent media (which consists of your fellow country men and women) here understands that. Some of us fellow Indians also see your point of view. Unfortunately, the inconsequentially civilised world and its people do not see it as it is. Hence, I would kindly request you to open your mouth (which has never failed to mesmerise us with long-drawn speeches before and give the world an explanation as to why there is so much hullabaloo about nothing at all!
Sincerely yours,
An Indian expat living in Oman
This place is too much like some child's play pen who doesn't want to disturb his fun.
ReplyDeleteDummy long left the pram and its making its way around Oman's inept media. Why bother guys, after all, its about the paychecks right? You should be ashamed.
An absolute disgrace.
Still there are, like, more than a billion of them right? So no real loss. Plenty more where she came from...
Lets see how much print time the Indian ambassador gets in the media this week....
Mr. A. A. Ali, there are some Embassies that do care. Take the Australian Embassy for example - that is not actually here in Oman but in Saudi! - they care. I recently experienced that first hand! They go the extra mile for their people. Perhaps a few of these ambassadors should take some cues from the better ones out there. If you have ever met most of the Ambassadors in town, you probably know already that this is expected behaviour. If that lady who had lost her passport was attending some dreary talk at the Shangri-La, we'd have probably seen some sort of diplomatic intervention, or in the worst case scenario, the media being called upon to help spread the word and get the matter resolved.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know on what date and time the poor woman was pronounced dead?
Indian Expat - that is a great letter brimming with burning sarcasm! Do send it on.
ReplyDeleteA few questions:
1. Why was she not returned home to the local sponsor for the period to replace the passport?
2. Why was she not put up in a cheap hotel for the duration of the passport replacement process?
3. How is someone left in an airport for 4 days of bureaucratic bungling?
4. Why was she not given medical attention if clearly distressed?
Shame on the Indian Embassy and Shame on the people who held this woman in custody - this death is on both your hands.
I am an Indian Expat living in Oman for the past 4 yrs. My personal experience is as long as life goes smoothly, Oman is a good place to live. But in case of an accident,theft,driving license or things involving ROP, Indian expats are taken for a ride!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you expect from media run by Indians for Indians? If you think the locals are bad to the poor, labor class Indians, check out how bad the wealthy, Indians treat them. Start a real English newspaper for all our sakes.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard anything in the local media about the Saudi Prince convicted in the British Courts of murdering his "male companion"?
@indian expat...why dont u send your letter directly to ambassador on his official email id.
ReplyDeletegiven below.
amb.secy@indemb-oman.org
Ambassador [hom@indemb-oman.org]
why the indian embassy is not opening a small rep office in muscat airport.... it is too costly to operate or oman goverment will not allow to open??? just think about it, because in oman majority of the labour force from indian community .. may be this type of offices will help the poor peoples from any critical situations... anyway there is no words to say to Beebi Lumada's family... may god give the support to them....
ReplyDeletedear embassy officials,,, a humble request to u all.... here after please do your duty with out any mistakes... after all we are humans... we should give respect to others also...
1) As everyone mentioned, does a week go by when Wadhwa is NOT in the papers? It used to be funny, then it just got boring. And now its disgusting.
ReplyDelete2) I wonder why she was being sent to Ibn Sina hospital, as opposed to somewhere a little closer? If she was being rushed there in an ambulance? Could they not have taken her to the Royal or something?
I read this story and knew something wasn't right. How does someone die in an airport and nobody notices or just believe that it was "from hysteria"? And why the big cover-up??
ReplyDeleteToo many questions and I am praying for this lady's family back home.
I've been following your blog whenever i find time, Is it possible for you to give a link of my foodblog on your blog? pls let me know
ReplyDeleteAll comments mainly criticize the Indian Ambassador. Right so; it seems to me extremely surprising that the embassy couldn’t produce a transit documents for this poor lady. Hell, it is the embassy not just an honorary consulate! If they needed to have the full identity of this lady, they could have contacted the local immigration services/ROP/manpower to get the personal details as a proof of identity.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to know the real cause of death. The Ambassador should ask for the autopsy report ( I hope autopsy is performed……) . Has a police investigation be opened? Did the embassy ask for that????
True it is only a housemaid at the mercy of a sponsor, a slave.
The investigator
I read this story and knew something wasn't right. How does someone die in an airport and nobody notices or just believe that it was "from hysteria"?
ReplyDeletethis shows the incapability of the indian embassy here. Instead of spending time on inaugurating trivial events and posing for publicity the Ambassador should concentrate on caring for the welfare of his citizens
ReplyDeleteAn Open Letter to:
ReplyDeleteHis Excellency Anil Wadhwa, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman.
His Excellency,
No doubt we are mortals and u dont have the time nor patience to fel or see the tribulations we ordinary indians undergo.Its so worthy of u sir to get our country publicised thru the photos u take.Looking at u ,yes india is truly shining...
Unfortunately for beebi it didnt. but then it was her fault isnt? who asked her to lose her passport? and how adre she cant spaek any other languahge other than her native tongue? why cant sehe remind the embassy officials eevry hour about her plight? If not how can they remember her in their busy schedule? You are very right sir. When will we mortal indians learn we are really worthless?
urs,
An expat in baharin.