Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi is in talks with the Centre to ensure the safe return of Odias stranded in conflict-hit West Asia, said minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Sunday. “The central govt and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have lent special focus on safe evacuation of all Indians, including Odias, stranded in West Asia following the US-Israel strikes in Iran,” the minister told mediapersons here. “Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has already spoken to the ministry of external affairs about bringing back stranded Odias and, like previous such emergencies, all steps would be taken to ensure that no Odia is trapped in the West Asia unrest,” he added. While the exact number of Odias residing and stranded in Iran and key Gulf countries is not known yet, non-resident Odias in Dubai (UAE), Doha (Qatar) and Manama (Bahrain) said though anxiety is building up, things were largely under control amid drone and missile attacks. “In Dubai, the attacks were on strategic locations,” said Sudhashree Dash, an NRO. “While we heard a few loud explosions and there were reports of debris in some parts of the city, daily life continues as usual. Overall, things were normal but, of course, there is a sense of concern,” she said.Another NRO, Biswajit Mallik, who works at an IT firm and stays close to Jebel Ali port, which was hit by debris from an intercepted missile on Saturday, said there were some rounds of attacks which were intercepted, but timely advisories from the govt kept things under control. “But yes, despite govt advisories, some locals started hoarding water and other essentials,” he said. While schools were shut, companies shifted to work-from-home mode. From Ganjam, close to 200 people are employed in West Asian countries, Doha and Abu Dhabi in particular. Pitamber Behera and Krushna Charan Dakua of Kutharsingh and Bhaliagada in Rangeilunda block, who are working as welders in a company in Abu Dhabi, said they remained awake through Saturday night amid missile sirens and explosions. “We heard three explosions while working at the site, and there were plumes of smoke rising in the air. Our company declared a holiday today on safety grounds,” said Pitamber. President of Bahrain Odia Samaj Arun Prahraj said the situation was volatile. On Saturday, when the US Navy base was attacked in the Juffair area, Prahraj shifted eight Odia families and a Tamil medical student from Juffair to his house in Saar. “By evening, missiles and drones attacked residential areas in Saar, and we could see the missiles and drones in the sky which were intercepted. We are constantly in touch with the Indian ambassador and the Bahrain govt would evacuate, if needed,” he said.
