Stranded Maid Dies of Stress After 5 Nights in Airport

Authorities pass the blame in death of woman who lost passport
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 14, 2010 4:00 AM CDT
Stranded Maid Dies of Stress After 5 Nights in Airport
The airline provided the woman with food and bedding.   (Shutter Stock)

An Indian maid died of what doctors say was a stress-induced heart attack after being forced to spend five nights sleeping in a transit area at Oman's Muscat airport. The 40-year-old lost her passport on a connecting flight between Oman and Qatar, and she was sent back to Oman instead of being allowed to board her flight to India. Oman refused to readmit her and the various authorities involved are blaming each other for her death, the Independent reports.

Indian politicians say that airport and airline authorities should have done more to help the stranded woman, while Omani officials say the Indian embassy failed to act on repeated requests to provide her with a temporary passport. Witnesses say the woman, who was provided with food and bedding, became severely stressed as days at the airport went by and feared she would be there indefinitely, the BBC reports. Amnesty International says the case raises serious concerns that need to be investigated by both countries.
(More airport stories.)

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