A PARTIALLY paralysed expatriate who had raked up a BD20,000 bill for treatment flew home after he was granted a lifeline.
Gangadhar Pashkam Sarthala had also lost his speech after undergoing multiple surgeries on his head following an accident in August last year.
His wish to reunite with his family in the south Indian state of Telangana was granted on Friday when the King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) waived the massive bill.
The generous gesture followed diplomatic intervention on a request by the Telugu Kala Samiti (TKS), an organisation representing the residents from the south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The 36-year-old runaway labourer was taken to KHUH in August last year with his left side paralysed. He subsequently underwent ‘multiple surgeries’ on his head.
He was moved to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) in April this year after he tested positive for Covid-19. He recovered partially, but lost his speech.
It was also found that the KHUH had placed a travel ban on Mr Sarthala due to the outstanding bill.
Mr Sarthala at the KHUH
The hospital waived the bill after social workers and diplomats stepped in.
“It was a complicated case, but thanks to the efforts of the Indian Embassy, the Indian Community Relief Fund and Bahraini government agencies concerned, especially the KHUH, we could help the man reunite with his family on Friday,” TKS welfare convenor Murali Nomula told the GDN.
Mr Sarthala was reunited with wife Ramya and two children – Nirosha, 11 and four-year-old son Revath – in Thimmapur, Nizamabad, Telangana.
TKS members came to know of Mr Sarthala’s plight in October last year and Mr Nomula along with TKS welfare co-ordinator Hari Babu alerted the embassy to the case.
“The embassy officials visited KHUH and gathered more details about Mr Sarthala,” said Mr Nomula.
“It was then revealed that he did not have a valid visa and there was a missing person’s case field against him by his sponsor.”
The embassy sought help from the immigration authorities for visa cancellation, co-ordinated further with various government entities to get the hospital bill waived and finally obtained an exit permit.
Mr Sarthala’s ticket to Hyderabad was also arranged by the embassy.
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