Nepal embassy in Saudi Arabia has rescued and repatriated a Nepali woman who was forcefully employed as domestic helper in the country.

The Nepali girl, Shanta Pariyar, of Palungtar-9, Gorkha, worked as a housemaid in Al-Ahsa from December 4, 2010.

She reunited with her family after her Air Arabia flight reached Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Her two younger sisters, mother Sabitri and father Hasta Bahadur received her at the airport.

“Our daughter did not contact us for the last five years. We were worried about her whereabouts and condition. We were stressed and worried if she was dead or alive,” said her mother Sabitri. “We are very happy to see her arrive home.” The embassy learnt about her plight after her employer went to the embassy to make her passport. “Her employer had reached the embassy along with Shanta to make her passport,” said Bijaya Kanta Raut secretary at Nepal embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Though Shanta’s employer had pledged to send her back to Nepal, he continued to keep her as maid. Embassy officials came to about this when the kafil (Arabic for employer), visited the embassy to get her passport after two months. “He later brought Shanta to the embassy after officials enquired about her and told him she should have been sent back a year earlier,” said Raut.

Shanta could return home after her employer paid her dues of Saudi Rials 15400 (Rs 427,806) and gave air-ticket and exit permit to her at the embassy.