The family of Manjay Sada of Gorgama, of Bishnupur Rural Municipality-6 in Saptari, who died in Malaysia, say they lack the financial means to bring his body home.

Sada had gone to Malaysia for foreign employment at the age of 20 to support his family. Upon arriving there 12 years ago, he found that the work and salary promised to him were not available. He struggled to repay the Rs 150,000 he had borrowed from neighbours to migrate. Within a few months, he began working as a security guard at another company.

The job and pay at the new company were relatively stable. He gradually repaid his debt while supporting a family of four, including his parents, wife and daughter.

Two weeks ago, he suddenly fell ill. He called his 30-year-old wife, Shivakumari, and said he had not been able to report to duty for two days due to severe chest pain. Shivakumari asked him to rest.

“The next day, he developed diarrhoea and could hardly speak on the phone, so I requested friends from our neighbouring village, who work in the same locality, to check on him,” she said. “By the time they reached, he was so weak that he could not even get out of bed.”

Following her request, his friends took him to hospital. He was admitted to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang on April 4 but passed away on April 9 while undergoing treatment.

Shivakumari has remained in a state of shock since receiving the news. His 54-year-old father, Budhan, and 52-year-old mother, Maunidevi, are also in tears.

The family’s hardship has deepened as there is no certainty over when they will receive the body. Due to unpaid medical and treatment costs, Sada’s body remains at the hospital. His friends in Malaysia have informed the family that around Rs 700,000 is required to clear the hospital bill and complete the process of repatriation.

However, the family, which lives on unregistered public land, has been unable to arrange the amount due to a lack of income. “I have pleaded everywhere, but the money could not be arranged,” said Maunidevi. “I have not been able to sleep for ten days because we have not been able to collect the funds.”

The family also say they do not know the name of the company where Sada was working as a security guard. “My son used to say he was moving from place to place for work,” his mother said, appealing for help to bring his body back.

Paramananda Yadav, ward chair Bishnupur-6, said he has sent a recommendation to the chief district officer after receiving an application from the family, urging authorities to initiate the repatriation process. “We are ready to provide all possible support at the local level,” he said. “We have also requested the government to assist in bringing the body back.”

Assistant chief district officer Naresh Kumar Yadav said the matter has been communicated to the Department of Consular Services for further action.