Sleepless nights for many North Andhra families, as tensions escalate in Gulf

Families across north coastal Andhra Pradesh are gripped by fear and anxiety as escalating tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States continue to trigger security concerns across the Gulf nations. With reports of missile and drone attacks, relatives of migrant workers are spending sleepless nights, constantly reaching out to their loved ones abroad and praying for their safety. Many employees say they are living in uncertainty, worried about what might happen next.

A significant number of youth from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Kakinada and Srikakulam districts migrate to the Gulf countries—Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain— in search of employment every month. Those who have done technical training take up jobs as welders, plumbers and fitters, while those who have pursued specialised certifications in QA/QC and NDT secure better pay scales. A large section of these workers have been employed for over a decade or even more in the Gulf. However, the sudden escalation of tensions has disrupted their sense of stability.

P. Rajesh (name changed on request) from Tungalam, Gajuwaka, working in Qatar for the past decade, narrowly escaped danger when drones fell close to his workplace. His wife, P. Someswari, said: “He was supposed to come home in the first week of February. But due to some reasons he did not come. It would have be great, if he had come.” She added that her husband’s company is trying to shift all employees to a safer and better location. “Fortunately, the network connection is on and offers some relief,” she adds.

G. Devi, a resident of Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district, has not slept for the past three days. Her husband, Somesh, works as a fitter in a company in Dubai, for the past two years, sent her videos and pictures of drones flying, and missiles and bombs landing close to his workplace. She said: “It is terrifying. He called me yesterday and said, ‘If my phone does not work, don’t panic. I will keep myself safe somewhere.’

G. Bheemaraju, from Palasa in Srikakulam district, said that his brother works in Muscat as a senior. Though initially there were no tension there, attacks on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, and on the Duqm Port, have made us tense. “Every hourly we contact him. Right now, there is no issue there, but safety is still a question. We have been praying for the situation to come under control. The sad thing is unless the company authorities send them, they cannot voluntarily come down,” he said.