Shimla: There is currently no report of any resident from Himachal Pradesh facing harm due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving the US, Iran, and Israel, parliamentary affairs minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said on Tuesday.Many Himachal Pradesh residents in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are in touch with their families, and no harm has been reported so far, Chauhan said while interacting with the mediapersons.The exact number of people from the hill state in the Middle East is unknown. While media reports suggest figures between 40,000 and 45,000, the govt does not have precise data, he added.Chauhan noted that the airspace over the Middle East region was presently closed, and no commercial flights were operating. The state govt is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Union ministry of home affairs and the ministry of external affairs, he said.The minister further said the state’s home department had deployed officers to oversee the matter, and a dedicated helpline would soon be established to assist residents facing any difficulties. “If anyone encounters issues, they can contact us, and we will take all necessary steps,” Chauhan said while emphasising that there were no major problems reported so far.Once air travel resumes, residents wishing to return to India will be able to do so, he added. The minister also highlighted that the central govt was maintaining communication with the home secretaries across states.MSID:: 128972641 413 |
