Paralyzed Indian stuck in Dubai hospital over unpaid bills

April 11, 2014
dubai
Dubai, Apr 11: An Indian, who became partially paralyzed after a stroke, has been stuck at a hospital here for the past four months as his estranged family has refused to foot the medical bill of around $27,000.

Maxwell Donald Pereira, 56, who has been in Dubai since 1978 and worked in the hospitality sector, suffered a life-threatening stroke on January 17 that left him immovable.

His medical expenses amount to Dh100,000 (about $27,000), Gulf News reported.

Pereira, who was supervisor of a club, had undergone a life-saving brain surgery at a hospital here but his sponsor disappeared later.

Surgeons had to remove a bone flap from his cranium, which now needs to be surgically replaced.

Pereira's condition has stabilised since then although he cannot walk. The doctors have deemed him fit to travel to India accompanied by a nurse.

Pereira needs a special helmet to encase his fragile head, and the bone flap that has been removed needs to be taken in a special container at a constant temperature of -60 degree. All of this, and tickets, would cost him around Dh40,000.

"I want to go home, I want to see my mum," Pereira was quoted as saying in the report.

Pereira's estranged wife and his 22-year-old son have refused to take his responsibility. His elderly mother has called several friends for help, according to the report.

Manish Shigwan, a former cashier at the club and Pereira's colleague, said that the visas of all the employees had been cancelled but they had not received salaries for the past two months and had no money to travel back home.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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