Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to PM Modi on ensuring safety of nationals in the Gulf

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the need to ensure the safety, welfare, and safe passage, if the situation demands, of lakhs of Indians, a significant section of whom are Keralites, working in the Gulf. 

Mr. Vijayan said the looming shadow of war over the Gulf region, following the US-Israel attack on Iran, has rendered the relatives of breadwinners employed in the region profoundly anxious for the safety and well-being of their near and dear ones. 

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Mr. Vijayan stressed the need for a plan of action to evacuate Indians in the strife-torn region, if the security situation degraded further. He said the Kerala government had opened helplines for citizens and their relatives working abroad to make enquiries and contact each other. 

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the helplines set up by the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) had processed 381 distress calls since the start of the conflict. So far, 137 non-resident Keralites and 244 persons having relatives working in the Gulf have availed themselves of the 24-hour NoRKA helpdesk services (+91-8802012345-International Missed Call) and 18004253939-Toll Free India number). 

The CMO said the majority of the calls concerned flight cancellations and security instructions. Scores of callers asked whether the Government of India (GoI) were organising evacuation flights from the Gulf region. Non-resident Keralites also expressed profound worry about the safety if the security situation in the Gulf worsened.