Ramachandran left for India in a wheelchair - in a condition far from the life he had lived in the UAE.

Indian expat Ramachandran Kottakkunnu, 60, suffered a stroke five months ago and, since then, he lay on a hospital bed, unable to walk, speak or do even the most basic activities. With the help of the community and the hospital where he was admitted, he was flown home earlier this week.

Ramachandran left for India in a wheelchair - in a condition far from the life he had lived in the UAE. He had been a resident for over 30 years and used to run a successful business until he lost it all, said Praveen Kumar, the social worker who managed his repatriation in collaboration with the Consulate-General of India in Dubai.