Berhampur: Berhampur MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy on Friday urged Union external affairs minister S. Jaishankar to ensure the immediate rescue of 24 people from eight families who have been stranded in Dubai following the closure of airspace after military escalation in West Asia. The stranded group, which includes senior citizens and an 11-year-old child, had travelled to Dubai on Feb 25 for a holiday and was scheduled to return on March 2.With the sudden flare-up of conflict and subsequent airspace closure, they have been stuck in the region. “They are living in fear due to repeated missile strikes. Their stay has extended beyond plan, causing financial strain, and they are also under psychological distress as the situation worsens each day,” Panigrahy said.
He said the stranded families from Berhampur, part of his parliamentary constituency, had reached out to his office seeking urgent assistance for safe evacuation. “I sincerely request the Government of India and the ministry of external affairs to look into the situation and ensure their safe return at the earliest,” he said. Panigrahy has sent the details of the stranded persons to the external affairs minister along with his request letter. He said he has been in touch with the families and assured them that the Union government would take necessary steps for their return. Earlier, he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking enhanced safety measures for Odias working in Gulf countries amid the ongoing military escalation in West Asia. Hundreds of Odias, particularly from Ganjam and Gajapati districts and especially from the Berhampur parliamentary constituency, work in Iran, Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain.
