Indian worker's body reaches home after three months

Shimla -- The body of an Indian worker who died in Saudi Arabia three months ago has finally reached his home in Himachal Pradesh for last rites.

Government officials who flew in the body of Vachitra Singh, 38, to Mainjha village in Kangra district, 240 km from here, Monday requested his family not to touch the body as it was heavily treated with chemicals.

"My prayers have been answered as my son's body has finally arrived home," said mother Jhanjhori Devi.

Vachitra Singh, who was cremated Monday evening, was working as a generator operator. According to his employers, he died on July 14 of a cardiac arrest in Teethrath in Saudi Arabia.

The company agreed to hand over the body only after Rs.360,000 was sent for embalming the body. The amount was sent by the state government with the help of the Saudi embassy in New Delhi, but there were further delays in shifting the body from a mortuary to India.

"This long delay took place due to procedural delays in Saudi Arabia," said Bharat Khera, district magistrate of Kangra district.

Singh was the sole bread winner of the poor dalit family.