Families of Indian workers, pilgrims worry about kin stranded in Israel, Iran

Family members of Indian workers from Barabanki district stranded in Israel have expressed concern for their safety. The workers are reportedly living in bunkers and are in constant contact with the Indian embassy in Israel.

Many factories have been closed in Israel owing to the war with Iran, forcing the Indian workers to spend their days in bunkers, the family members lamented.

They are able to communicate with their families via video calls, detailing the grim conditions and even sharing videos of missiles flying in the sky. The families, particularly in Nai Basti Gheri village of Deva police station area, are worried about the well-being of their loved ones.

Omkar Singh, the brother of one of the stranded men named Monu Singh, expressed his concerns. "I talk to Monu every morning and evening. They are in the bunker. Monu also sends us videos from there in which missiles are seen being fired," he said.

Bablu, who has been working in Israel for 14 months, echoed similar sentiments over a video call with PTI. "As soon as the siren sounds, everyone goes to the bunkers, where food and water arrangements are available," he said, adding that they "feel safe owing to Israel's preparations despite the danger".

On 5 April last year, Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon announced the departure of the first batch of Indian construction workers for Israel, recruited as replacements for Palestinian workers barred from working in Israel following the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas.

Indian trade unions had protested the controversial government-to-government agreement between India and Israel on both moral and ethical grounds, as well as on considerations of security and apprehension of discriminatory practices, primarily because Indian workers in Israel are reportedly paid far less than the Palestinians they replaced.

Iran lifts airspace restrictions to evacuate 1,000 Indians

Indian nationals in Israel and Iran are currently being evacuated under a mission codenamed Operation Sindhu, with nearly 1,500 having returned to India thus far.

Family members of five more people, who had gone to Iran for a religious pilgrimage, from Rasra town in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district on Sunday sought the Indian government's assistance for their safe evacuation and journey back home.

The five pilgrims — Syed Asad Ali Bakar, Syed Mohammad Muztaba Hussain, Syed Mohammad, Shama Jahan and Syed Nazmusqib — are stranded in Tehran amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Atif, a resident of Rasra, told PTI that the members of his family reached Iran after visiting Iraq on 25 May for the pilgrimage. All are currently safe in a hotel in Tehran, he said. Atif said another local, Masiur Rahman, also went with them, but he returned to India from Iraq on 7 June.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has appealed to the government to "bring back all the Indian citizens trapped in other countries by making diplomatic efforts and sending special aircraft".

Ballia MP Sanatan Pandey has also written to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and requested that all necessary steps be taken for the safe return of five people from Rasra town stranded in Tehran.

The Samajwadi Party MP in his letter earlier on Saturday said five people are stuck in Tehran owing to the war and appealed to the government to help the stranded pilgrims.

Air services are closed, owing to which there is no possibility of their returning to India, he added.

With PTI inputs