Bengaluru, February 28 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that the state government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and is taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Kannadigas residing in the region.
Siddaramaiah said that he has held consultations with the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi and has directed officials to take proactive measures to protect the people from the state living in the region.
“In light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the Government of Karnataka is treating the safety and well-being of Kannadigas residing in the Middle East, including Israel, the UAE, Iran, and Qatar, with the utmost seriousness,” he said in a post on 'X'.
A joint US-Israel military offensive against Iran has triggered fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Iran has launched retaliatory military strikes targeting Israel and American military bases across the region, including in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
Siddaramaiah said that those currently in conflict-affected areas and unable to return to India due to the closure of airspace in several countries are advised to relocate to safer zones at the earliest.
“I have instructed officials to operationalize a dedicated helpline from tomorrow to assist affected families,” he said.
“I urge family members not to panic if communication with their loved ones is temporarily disrupted. Please be assured that the safety of every Kannadiga is our foremost priority, and coordinated efforts are already underway in close liaison with the concerned authorities,” he added.
According to Ballari Rural MLA and former minister B Nagendra, 32 people from Ballari are presently stranded in Dubai, the chief minister said.
“Appropriate steps are being initiated to ensure their security and facilitate necessary assistance. We stand firmly committed to protecting our citizens and will continue to monitor the situation closely, responding with sensitivity, responsibility, and resolve,” he added.
The Indian missions in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Palestine, and Oman on Saturday issued advisories for its citizens urging them to “exercise utmost caution” and follow advisories issued by local authorities diligently.
Several missions also said that it is in touch with Indian citizens stranded at the airport or at other places as the two airports at Dubai, the largest aviation hub, shut down and the UAE and Iraq closed their airspace, hours after the US-Israel joint attack on Iran escalated into a region-wide tension.
The Indian missions have also provided emergency contact details for any assistance.