Expat waited 14 years to fly back to his family after his passport was taken away

When I came here in 2006, my two kids were babies. They must be teens now. I am returning emptyhanded the way I landed here. I will go back and do farming.” Swaminandam Tandrala,

Indian expat

abu dhabi — A stranded Indian expat — who according to official records exited the UAE in December 2006 — finally travelled home on Wednesday after a long wait of 14 years.

Swaminandam Tandrala, who hails from the Indian state of Telangana, belongs to a poor family of farmers. He was promised a job in Dubai by a recruitment agency. In October 2006, when he landed in Dubai, his recruitment agent seized his hand-written passport and didn’t offer the job. Worse, someone else used his passport to exit the country, leaving Tandrala to fend for himself without any legal documents.

“I have seen the worst days of my life. I worked as a helper to plumbers, technicians, mechanics in Dubai and Sharjah. I held on as I had no option to leave without a passport. I missed my family and children but I was stranded.”

Amid the pandemic, the oddjob opportunities dried up and Tandrala landed on the streets, often sleeping outdoors or on rooftops. “I used to sleep on the road. I struggled to even eat for days.”

Help pours in

Tandrala tried availing of previous amnesties but since his immigration status showed him as an Indian passport-holder who had exited the country, his papers couldn’t be processed.

Moved by his plight, someone referred his case to the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC) in Abu Dhabi, who took up the matter with the Consulate-General in Dubai.

Officials from the consulate coordinated with the local authorities to arrange an emergency certificate for Tandrala.

“He had no legal document. So, with the help of the local authorities we are able to ensure the safe return of a person who has been stuck here for so long,” said an official from the consulate.

ISC community welfare secretary Raja Srinivasa Rao Aita said Tandrala’s family is eagerly awaiting his return. “His family can’t believe he is finally returning. The Telangana Friends Association here has offered the air ticket. The missions and community united to help him.”

Counting the hours

As he counted the hours before he sees his family again, Tandrala expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped him survive the hardships he had been through.

“When I came here in 2006, my two kids were babies. They must be teenagers now. I am eager to meet them. I am taking chocolates for them,” Tandrala said while on his way to Dubai International Airport to catch his night flight to Hyderabad.

“I am returning empty-handed the way I landed here. I will now go back and do farming,” he said.