24 years after leaving Nepal, he came home blind and broken
Summary
Hom Bahadur Gharti returned to Nepal blind and physically frail after spending 24 years stranded in Malaysia without documents or contact with his family. His family tracked him down through a social media photo, and support agencies helped bring him home on February 27.
Key Points
- Hom Bahadur Gharti left Nepal for Malaysia in 2002 but became stranded there for 24 years, living illegally and in poor health.
- His family identified him from a social media photo and worked with local officials, the Migrant Resource Centre and Nepali agencies to rescue him and bring him back to Nepal.
- Gharti returned blind and physically debilitated, and is now receiving care at home with his family.
- Officials used his case to warn migrant workers about the risks of going abroad without proper labour approval and documents.
