Dead maid's family seeks advice on legal action

MUSCAT - The body of Beebi Lumada, the Indian domestic maid who died at Muscat airport after being stranded for four days after she lost her passport, was buried around 6pm (Indian time) yesterday at her native village in Chittoor district of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The body was sent on an Indian Airlines flight to Chennai from where it was taken to the deceased's native village.

Compensation

Speaking to Times of Oman over telephone from India, the deceased's brother Saithir said the family is shaken and is seeking advice to contemplate legal action against those responsible for her sister's death. He said, "We are all shocked and her husband and two children are yet to recover from the tragic news. My sister was sent to Muscat in 2008 to earn a living for herself and her family back home. My brother-in-law has been ill for the past several years, and thus jobless, and that is the reason my sister had to go to Oman to earn money".

Barely able to absorb the shock, Saithir fumbled, "I feel pity for her two children (daughter aged 10 and son aged 12) who have lost their mother."

Saithir said that Rs10,000 was handed over to them when they went to receive Beebi Lumada's body, which was mostly spent on the burial.

"Considering our poverty status and the loss of life, we urge the authorities to give us proper compensation. That will definitely help the two kids to move on with their lives." It is reported that the amount (Rs10,000) was sent from Oman through a social worker.

Inquiry initiated

A news agency report from New Delhi said a senior official of Ministry of External Affairs was being sent to Muscat to investigate the death of Beebi Lumada.

External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna was quoted in the report saying the senior official will conduct an inquiry and will report back to him. The move was necessitated after the media in India widely reported the incident.

When contacted, Anil Wadhwa, ambassador of India to Oman, said he is not aware of any senior ministry official visiting Muscat to conduct any inquiry, adding that he also read about it in the media.

Meanwhile, according to another report, Oman airport police said the Indian Embassy had failed to help Beebi Lumada.

The report said that a police officer at Muscat airport, who did not want to be identified, said the airport police had informed the Indian Embassy on October 4 (on Monday) to issue Beebi Lumada a temporary passport to travel back to India. The police reminded them the next day and the day after, but each time they said they were doing it but did not do it. If they had acted quickly, she would have probably been gone home alive, the officer added.

Courtesy : Times of Oman,, Oct 13: