109 Kannadigas Stranded In Middle East: Karnataka Govt Launches Helpline, Coordinates With Centre | The Bengaluru Live

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Bengaluru: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Sunday assured residents of the state currently stranded in Middle Eastern countries that there is no need to panic, as the state government has activated emergency mechanisms and is coordinating closely with the Union government for their safety and return.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, the Minister said the escalating conflict in parts of the Middle East has disrupted air travel and left several Karnataka residents stuck in transit, particularly at major airports.

109 Individuals Contact Helpline

He stated that since Saturday night, the Karnataka government has activated a dedicated helpline through the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). So far, 109 stranded individuals have contacted the helpline and shared their details with authorities.

Following instructions from the Chief Minister, senior officials including the Principal Secretary (Disaster Management) and the State Emergency Operation Centre have been working round the clock. The government is maintaining continuous coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.

Karnataka’s Resident Commissioner in New Delhi is also in regular touch with the MEA to ensure state residents receive necessary support.

Special Flights Not Possible Yet

One of the primary concerns raised by stranded citizens relates to evacuation through special or rescue flights.

Minister Krishna Byre Gowda clarified that at present, air traffic in the affected region has been suspended due to security reasons. As long as airspace restrictions remain in force, neither regular nor special flights can operate.

He emphasized that once air traffic resumes and restrictions are lifted, the Union government will take necessary steps to arrange return travel through special flights or regular commercial services.

He urged stranded residents to remain calm and avoid panic travel, warning that attempting flight operations during ongoing hostilities could endanger passenger safety. Return arrangements will be communicated immediately once airspace reopens.

Airport Transit Issues & Visa Support

A second major issue involves passengers stranded at airports such as Dubai and Bahrain, where connecting flights to India have been cancelled. Some individuals reportedly do not possess transit visas to exit the airport.

To address this, the Karnataka government has activated two helpline numbers:

📞 080-2340676
📞 080-2253707

Stranded passengers can call these numbers for assistance.

Upon receiving information, the state government forwards details to the Ministry of External Affairs, which then coordinates with Indian embassies in the respective countries. Embassies are facilitating temporary or transit visas to allow affected individuals to exit airports and arrange accommodation until normal travel resumes.

Direct Embassy Contact & Sarathi Portal

The Minister also advised stranded residents to directly contact Indian embassies in countries including:

Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, and Palestine.

In addition, citizens may seek assistance through the Union government’s online support platform “Sarathi”.

He said three channels are currently available:

Karnataka State Emergency Operation Centre helpline
Direct contact with local Indian embassies
Government of India’s Sarathi portal

Through these mechanisms, temporary visa arrangements and local support can be provided until conditions stabilize.

Appeal for Calm

Minister Krishna Byre Gowda reiterated that the situation is being monitored continuously and that the Karnataka government is committed to ensuring the safe return of all residents once flight operations resume.

He appealed to families in Karnataka not to panic and assured them that the state and Union governments are working in coordination to safeguard citizens abroad.