The ordeal of Mohammed Abdulaziz, an Indian expatriate who was threatened with separation from his family after languishing at a deportation center for months, came to an end after his story was published in Arab News, prompting several Indian officials to intervene and get the family a final-exit visa.

Mohammed’s wife and six children had frantically sought assistance to be granted a final-exit visa along with their sole breadwinner to no avail. On learning of the case, Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao assigned an officer to handle the family’s case.

Indian diplomat Manoj Kumar pursued the case with Saudi authorities until the deportation center in Riyadh granted the family a final-exit visa on humanitarian grounds. Mohammed was assisted by Indian social worker Shihab Kottukad.

Sources have said that the family has still not left the Kingdom because flights to India are fully booked.

The Indian Embassy has sponsored the family’s lodging and has provided them with eight tickets home.