Bhubaneswar: Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain seeked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s intervention for the safe return of an Odia youth stranded in Saudi Arabia. The minister has urged Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to intervene and ensure safe return of Pralaya Ranjan Mahapatra from Jagatsinghpur district, who travelled to Saudi Arabia May 24, 2024, to work as a wheel loader driver with Mazad Al-Harbi Co.
According to a complaint lodged by his mother, Pratima Sethi, Pralay’s employment contract with the company expired April 30, 2026 but the company has not allowed Pralaya to return to India despite the completion of his contract. She also informed Swain that Pralaya’s father is unwell, adding to the family’s distress and anxiety. Responding to the family’s appeal, Swain requested the MEA to take urgent steps on humanitarian grounds to facilitate the youth’s safe return at the earliest.
In his letter, the minister also appealed to the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to intervene immediately and provide all necessary assistance for Pralaya’s repatriation. The minister stated that while the young Odia worker remains stranded abroad, his family in Odisha continues to live in uncertainty and emotional distress. He urged the Centre to act swiftly to ensure his safe and early return.
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