The body of 38-year-old Tinson Thomas, an Indian national who had been stranded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, arrived in Thrissur, Kerala, on the morning of Monday, September 7, 2026. Thomas, originally from Avanissery in the Ollur-Puthur region, had moved to Saudi Arabia for employment approximately five years ago. He is survived by his mother, Leena, and sister, Teena Biju; his father, Palayakkal Thomas, predeceased him. Funeral services were scheduled for 5:00 PM today at the St Antony’s Forane Church cemetery in Ollur.
- Body of 38-year-old Tinson Thomas arrived in Thrissur from Riyadh on Monday, September 7, 2026.
- Thomas had been stranded in Saudi Arabia without a valid passport or residency permit.
- Funeral services were scheduled for 5:00 PM today at St Antony’s Forane Church cemetery in Ollur.
Thomas, who previously worked at a tyre shop near Exit 17 in Riyadh, had been unemployed for roughly two years, leading to the expiration of his residency permit (Iqama). Without a valid passport or legal documents, he became stranded. On May 18, Thomas suffered a severe head injury and was treated at a private hospital before being transferred to the intensive care unit at King Saud Medical City in Shumaisi. Although he was later moved to a ward, he left the hospital before fully recovering his memory. Community volunteers located him in a park and provided temporary accommodation, but he later went missing again, spending approximately three months wandering in the Batha area.
On August 22, Thomas was found dead in the veranda of a multi-storey building in the Batha area of Riyadh. Due to the lack of a passport and valid Iqama, the repatriation process was complex.
Rafiq Pullur, Chairman of the Riyadh KMCC Central Committee Welfare Wing, along with community volunteers including Riyaz Chingath, Sali Aluva, Naseer Kanneer, and Junaid Omachapuzha, coordinated with the Indian Embassy and Saudi Jawazat to complete the legal formalities and secure the necessary mortuary and travel documents. The repatriation expenses, including airfare, were covered by the Indian Embassy’s Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh offers assistance for distressed workers through its welfare framework, including emergency medical support and help with the repatriation of mortal remains. Families of deceased nationals typically require a notarized Power of Attorney or consent document to facilitate the return of remains.
The Embassy maintains a 24x7 helpline at +966-11-4884697, a main line at +966-11-4884144, and a toll-free number at 800 247 1234.