Odisha CM Majhi Orders Monitoring of Middle East Crisis, Stranded Odias Evacuated Safely
Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed deep concern over the escalating crisis in the Middle East and the plight of Odias stranded there.
He has directed Chief Secretary Anu Garg to closely monitor developments and coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure their safe return.
A high-level meeting was convened on March 2, during which Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty at the Directorate of Odisha Paribar, was appointed as the nodal officer.
The Directorate has already received nearly 200 calls from Odias in the region, and is working in real-time with Odia associations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dhaka to gather updates.
The MEA has set up a control room and toll-free helpline (1800-118-797) to assist stranded Indians. Additional contact numbers have also been shared for immediate support.
Evacuation efforts are underway: 35 Odia tourists stranded in Dubai have been successfully brought back.
Nine returned on March 7 via Kochi, while the remaining arrived in Bhubaneswar on March 8 aboard a special Air India Express flight.
On a national scale, the MEA confirmed that nearly 65,000 Indians have already been evacuated safely from the Middle East through special flights.
The Odisha government continues to monitor the situation closely, reaffirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of Odias abroad.
