Israel-Iran conflict: Kerala CM urges PM Modi to intervene in addressing travel woes of Keralite expatriates

Kerala has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to alleviate the sufferings of the stranded passengers in West Asian cities in the wake of the Iran war involving the US and Israel. In a letter, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan drew the Prime Minister’s attention to the distress faced by a large number of pravasis (Keralite expatriates) in West Asian countries.

“Many pravasis are stranded without a viable and affordable return option. There is a severe shortage of chartered and scheduled flights operating from the GCC countries to India, leaving thousands of Indian nationals, including Keralites, stranded without viable return options. Requesting the Union government to urgently engage with the flight operators/airline companies to resume and increase flight services to priority destinations in India, including tier-2 cities,” said Mr. Vijayan in the letter dated March 5.

It is desirable to establish a centralised registration system through Indian missions or a dedicated online portal to identify and prioritise the repatriation of the most vulnerable, including the sick, elderly, pregnant women, children and those in financial distress, he said.

He also requested that the Centre keep the State governments informed of the arrangements to facilitate seamless reception and onward support for returnees.

Regulating ticket fares

Drawing attention to the inflated ticket prices charged by airlines, exploiting the crisis and rendering travel unaffordable for many, Kerala requested the Centre to actively engage with the airline companies in regulating the ticket fares “in this hour of distress.”

“There is a substantial number of Indian nationals who are on tourist and visit visas to GCC countries. Their return also needs to be facilitated in a coordinated manner. Besides, a large number of Indian passengers, who were using GCC airports (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait) as transit hubs en route to other continents and destinations, are now stranded mid-journey due to sudden flight cancellations and airspace closures. Their case calls for urgent attention. A specific helpline or registration channel should be created for transit passengers, distinct from resident Indians, given their unique vulnerability of being without luggage, accommodation, or local contacts while stranded in a foreign country,” said the Chief Minister.