3.01 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Memory-loss man 'escaped from airport'

Published
By Joseph George

An Indian national who lost his memory in an accident and was admitted to Rashid Hospital has been identified.

Peddi Raju, 44, from Andhra Pradesh, India, worked for Sterling Constructions.

Company officials identified him after his photograph was released in the media. They are now co-ordinating with the voluntary organisation 'The Valley of Love' to repatriate him.

The company allegedly terminated him in 2007 and later declared him absconding when he failed to leave the country.

Raju who is married and has two children, is currently staying at Rashid Hospital because he did not know where to go.

He was found bleeding after an accident in Satwa and was taken to the hospital where doctors discovered he had lost his memory.

According to company officials, Raju worked as a helper until 2007, when he was terminated. The company cancelled his visa and dropped him at the airport.

However, according to Joseph from The Valley of Love, Raju didn't board the flight and may have walked out of the airport after company officials left the airport premises. "He could have tried working illegally and after three months called the company saying that he was still in the country and wanted to rejoin the firm. That is when the company reported him absconding,” said Joseph.

'Emirates24l7' has learnt that Raju had worked with the company for almost 10 years as a helper. Later he survived by collecting cartons from dustbins and selling them. He has a school-going boy and girl, to whom he regularly sent money until almost a year ago.

Efforts are now on to prepare an outpass and send him to India. "Ït will take at least another week for us to complete the procedures. We will then approach the ICWC - a welfare wing of the Indian Consulate for help with his air tickets,” added Joseph.