RIYADH — Babu Kommu, a 20-year-old laborer from the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh who became paraplegic after falling from the lift of an under-construction building, has been repatriated with the help of community organizations in Riyadh. Social workers in Riyadh contacted Kommu after reading about his plight in Saudi and Indian newspapers. Venu Madhav of Telugu Kala Kshetra, the RiyadhIndian Friendship Association (RIFA) and Manogaran of Amma Peravai of Tamil Nadu were some of the individuals and groups that offered financial assistance. Workers hailing from Kommu's native village, Malkapett in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, also came forward with support. The contracting company had deserted Kommu as he was not under its sponsorship. Sathyya, the site supervisor with whom Kommu was working when the accident occurred, did not extend any help even though both hailed from the same district. The Embassy of India turned down a request to provide Kommu with a one-way air ticket from the Community Welfare Fund. The request was made three weeks ago through Thennala Moideen Kutty of Kerala Muslim Cultural Center, who managed to arrange an exit visa in Kommu's emergency travel pass. The Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry created the fund four years ago mainly to deliver timely financial help to ordinary workers in distress. Kommu had to obtain an emergency travel pass from the Indian Embassy because he was declared a “huroob” (runaway) worker and his sponsor was not available. Kommu left for Hyderabad aboard a Saudia flight from Riyadh Wednesday. He was received at Hyderabad airport by his father Narsayya Kommu and brother Shankar. From Hyderabad Kommu has to travel 130 km by road to reach his village. Kommu thanked all those who helped him in his bad time, especially the manager of Shifa Al Jazeerah Polyclinic, Ashraf Venghat. Venghat permitted him to stay in his clinic for more than two months free of cost. He also arranged an ambulance to drop him at the airport. The Shumaisy Hospital had written off more than SR70000 in treatment costs for Kommu. The medical report issued by the sospital stated that Kommu was a patient with “incomplete paraplegia”, which indicates that his condition could improve if prolonged physiotherapy was given.
