Indian's body lying in hospital for two months

Dubai, Oct 24 (UNI) The body of an Indian worker from Bihar has been lying in the morgue of a local hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for 59 days as his wife refused to give her consent for a local burial, which is a legal requirement in Saudi Arabia.

The family members of late Sheikh Mazharuddin said they have nothing to do with him as he never supported them in hours of need, an Indian social worker Shihab Kottukad told the Arab News.

Asma Khatoon, Mazharuddin's wife refused to sign the papers for local burial. His children, who have now grown up and able to bear the expenses of repatriating the body to India, have also not shown any sympathy towards their deceased father.

Mazharuddin, who hailed from a village in Siwan district of Bihar, died on August 27 at Al-Mouwasat hospital, where he was admitted after the complaining of chest pain. He was 58.

He had come to work in the Kingdom in 1994, and never visited his family during his 15-year stay in Riyadh. Ms Khatoon said her husband did not come to the family's rescue, when she desperately needed him. Now, the Indian Embassy may on its own authorise local burial.

UNI XC SW ATI HT0948