For nearly five years, three young girls in Odisha waited for their mother to return home. Their wait finally ended after a Facebook video, a legal intervention by the Odisha High Court, and a painstaking search by Indian officials in the UAE helped bring back Hasta Mahananda, a single mother who had been stranded abroad and unable to reunite with her family.
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A cry for help on Facebook
Hasta Mahananda, a resident of Odisha and mother of three daughters, had travelled to the UAE for work. Over time, communication with her family became increasingly difficult before stopping altogether, leaving relatives deeply concerned about her safety and whereabouts.
Amid increasing anxiety, a short Facebook video surfaced in which Hasta appealed for help to return to India. The video, circulated among community groups, eventually came to the attention of Indian consular officials in Dubai, adding urgency to efforts already underway to trace her.
Family turns to court
With no contact from Hasta for years, her relatives approached authorities in Odisha before moving the Odisha High Court. The court sought details about her welfare and directed that the matter be taken up through diplomatic channels.
The request reached the Consulate General of India in Dubai, which launched a search operation despite having only limited information to work with.
Officials initially tried contacting her through a mobile number, but repeated attempts failed. The search became more challenging because records carried discrepancies in her identity details.
Piecing together the puzzle
Consular officials worked through passport and visa records, tracing her sponsor details and employment history. Assistance from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local contacts helped investigators narrow down her location.
The breakthrough came on May 12 when a company manager arrived at the Indian Consulate in Dubai with Hasta.
During discussions with officials, she confirmed that she was safe but said she had repeatedly been denied permission to travel back to India despite wanting to return home.
Consulate steps in
Indian officials directed her employer to settle pending salary payments, end-of-service benefits and complete procedures required for her exit from the UAE, including visa cancellation.
However, Hasta faced another hurdle. She had no savings, no bank account and insufficient funds to complete the formalities needed for her return.
The Indian mission stepped in using resources from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), arranging temporary accommodation, covering necessary expenses and booking her flight home. Officials also facilitated travel documentation and other procedures required for her departure.
Hasta has now returned to India and is expected to reunite with her three daughters in Odisha after years of separation.
