Over 100 NRIs Stranded in West Asia Amid Conflict, Await Saudi Visas for India Return
In a distressing development amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, more than 100 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), including approximately a dozen from Odisha, find themselves stranded in Bahrain and Kuwait. With airports in these countries effectively shut down and commercial operations severely disrupted following drone and missile attacks, these individuals are now desperately seeking alternative routes to return to India, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a critical but challenging transit point.
Airport Closures and Flight Suspensions Create Crisis
The situation has escalated rapidly as Bahrain and Kuwait airports have been closed, and flight services suspended in response to security threats. Sirens have become a common sound, sending people scurrying for cover, while anxiety mounts among the expatriate community. Many NRIs, including those working in multinational companies, are scrambling for uncertain escape routes back home, with limited options available due to the disrupted airspace.
Dilip Nadgir, a Karnataka native employed at a multinational firm in Bahrain, shared his harrowing experience. "Following some drone and missile attacks in Bahrain, I travelled to Saudi Arabia and have been staying in an apartment. There is a long queue at the Saudi embassy in Bahrain for visas. It may take one week to clear the backlog," he explained. Nadgir highlighted that fear and confusion are widespread, with around 20 people from his company alone waiting for visas.
Saudi Arabia as a Transit Hub: Visa Bottlenecks Add to Woes
With Bahrain and Kuwait airports non-operational, many NRIs are attempting to reach India through Saudi Arabia, where the airport and airspace remain open. However, this route is proving difficult due to significant hurdles in securing Saudi visas. The backlog at embassies, coupled with long waits and uncertainty over approvals, has left families in limbo, unable to execute their contingency plans.
Santanu Panigrahi, a native of Odisha, emphasized the connectivity crisis. "UAE started operations, but aircraft availability is very low. For many, Riyadh emerged as the only possible transit point, but without visas, even that contingency plan remains out of reach. Long waits, uncertainty over approvals and the absence of clear timelines have left families in limbo," he stated. Panigrahi noted that even where flight services have partially resumed, options remain scarce, compounding the crisis.
Widespread Anxiety and No Quick Resolution in Sight
The stranded NRIs report that anxiety is mounting, with many no longer believing the crisis in Bahrain and Kuwait will ease quickly. Nadgir added, "I am also eagerly waiting for the visa. There may be some improvement elsewhere in West Asia, but people do not expect the turmoil in these two countries to end soon." This sentiment reflects a broader concern among the expatriate community, who are caught in a precarious situation with no immediate relief in sight.
The plight of these individuals underscores the broader impact of the West Asia conflict on Indian nationals abroad. As they await visas and navigate logistical challenges, their desperate wait for a safe return to India continues, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated efforts to facilitate their repatriation.
