DOHA , MAY 16 - The body of Nepali migrant worker Shiva Bahadur Damai, who committed suicide in Oman five months ago, is yet to be repatriated.

Damai’s employer has been refusing to claim the body and send it back to Nepal, saying that his death was not during the course of duty. The body has been kept in a hospital in Oman.

It has been reported that Damai’s employer tried to bury the body citing lack of money to send the body back to Nepal.

A permanent resident of Ringnehar VDC-4 in Palpa district, Damai, who had gone to the Gulf country through Florida Manpower Company around 14 months ago, committed suicide on December 12. He was working with Al Ranan United Trade Company in the Omani city of Salalah.

Dipak Shrestha, an official at Nepal Embassy in Saudi Arabia, said they were pressing the employer not to bury the body. Omani riyal 1,500 (around Rs 350,000) is yet to be paid to the hospital for keeping the body.

Meanwhile, the Nepali embassy has drawn the Omani government’s attention to the incident.

“Sudhir Bhattarai, councilor at the embassy has arrived in Oman to discuss the matter and discussions are being held with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oman,” said Shrestha.

Published 16 May 2013. The Kathmandu Post.