Abu Dhabi - A grieving Indian family received body of a stranger due to a mix-up.
Their relative, 29-year-old Nidhin Othayoth Kottaron, died last week in Abu Dhabi.
Instead of receiving the remains of Nidhin, the Keralite family received the body of Kamatchi Krishnan, 39, hailing from Tamil Nadu.
A relative of deceased Nidhin said the family realised there was a mix up when the coffin arrived in Calicut, Kerala on Friday on an Air India flight.
Both the Indian expats died two days apart but it is not clear how the mix-up happened at the mortuary where both the bodies were kept.
Nidhin who was working as a site supervisor in Ruwais was found dead on July 5, while Krishnan reportedly died on July 7. The cause of death for both cases are not confirmed.
The body of Krishnan is currently kept in the mortuary at a government hospital in Nidhin's native place in Wayanad, Kerala, awaiting relatives.
An Indian embassy official who is dealing with the case said they are doing everything possible to help the families.
A relative of Nidhin said they expect the body to be flown to Kerala by Friday night. One of his relatives and a relative of Krishnan will accompany the body from Abu Dhabi. After obtaining clearance from the local police, they will take the body from Kerala to Tamil Nadu.