Govt. moves to help stranded Telugus in Bahrain, other Gulf nations

With tensions escalating between Israel and Iran, the Andhra Pradesh government has moved to assist Telugu people stranded in Bahrain and other Gulf nations.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS) to ensure uninterrupted food supply and extend all possible support to expatriates facing hardship.

The intervention follows reports that several Telugu workers in Bahrain were struggling to access food during daytime hours owing to restrictions associated with the Ramadan month.

During a Zoom conference convened by Minister for NRI Empowerment Kondapalli Srinivas and APNRTS, more than 250 coordinators from conflict-affected Middle East and Gulf countries participated and briefed officials on the ground situation.

APNRTS president Ravi Kumar Vemuru told The Hindu on Tuesday that Telugus in Bahrain were facing relatively greater distress compared to those in other Gulf countries.

“In Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, the situation is stable. However, in Bahrain, some buildings have reportedly been hit, prompting evacuations. Government shelters lack adequate food, and local NRT volunteers are stepping in to provide meals,” he said.

Mr. Ravi Kumar added that panic triggered by misinformation was reported in Abu Dhabi, though no emergencies had been recorded there. “A significant concern is that many industrial plants, particularly in oil, government and civil works sectors, are shutting down. Some of the countries have classified oil and government sector services as ‘essential services,’ preventing the employees in these sectors from leaving the country,” he said.

Another pressing issue was the soaring cost of airline tickets, making evacuation difficult. Many transit passengers were currently being accommodated by local Telugu associations.

The APNRTS advised those unable to secure safe flights to consider Oman as a relatively safer transit point, though visa constraints remain a hurdle.

The State government urged Ministry of External Affairs to negotiate with the Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, to facilitate transit visas for stranded workers, ensuring their safe passage if the conflict intensified further.