Kerala is on its toes following Iran’s retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel. The State, which has over 30 lakh overseas diaspora members in the Gulf alone, has opened help desks to assist Keralites in these countries. With the closure of multiple airspaces in West Asia, most airlines operating in the sector have either grounded flights or rerouted services for the day.
The closure of multiple international airspaces has also prompted the airports in Kerala, which has four international airports handling roughly over 100 flights to West Asia daily, to issue passenger advisories asking travellers to check the latest flight status with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airports and to plan their journeys accordingly. An Air Arabia flight that departed from Thiruvananthapuram for Abu Dhabi returned to Kerala after the UAE airspace was closed.
‘Under control’
Speaking to The Hindu, Ajith Kolassery, Chief Executive Officer of NoRKA-Roots, the government agency working for the welfare of Keralites abroad, said the State government has been receiving panic calls from Gulf countries following the suspension of air traffic. Although the situation remains under control and all Keralites are currently safe across Gulf countries, any escalation of the conflict could worsen the situation, especially in countries such as the UAE, where an Asian worker was reportedly killed in the strike, and Saudi Arabia, which together host the lion’s share of the Kerala diaspora in West Asia, he said.
Similarly, the situation of around 15,000 people settled in Israel is also grim amid the escalation of violence, as Israel is likely to face Iran’s retaliation more than any other country in the region, Mr. Kolassery added. Repatriation falls under the jurisdiction of the Union government, while the State government is monitoring the situation and coordinating through diaspora networks in the Gulf, he said.
Help desk has been launched for Keralites following instructions from the office of the Chief Minister. Keralites in need of assistance can register by contacting the NoRKA Global Contact Centre through the helpdesk numbers: +91-8802012345 (international missed call) and 1800-425-3939 (toll-free number within India). The State government has also urged citizens to follow the instructions issued by Indian embassies in the respective countries and the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
Published – February 28, 2026 06:40 pm IST
