Patna: Escalating hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States have disrupted travel between India and the Gulf, leaving scores of migrant workers from Bihar stranded and anxious about their livelihoods.
Air India, IndiGo and Air India Express have suspended several services to Gulf destinations until March 5, citing the volatile security situation and airspace restrictions. For the second consecutive day, nearly 100 workers from Bihar scheduled to travel to Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, Sharjah, Kuwait and other Gulf cities cancelled their tickets.
Many had planned to travel from Patna to Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai before connecting to the Gulf, spending between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 on domestic travel alone. With international flights grounded, those expenses have effectively gone to waste.
The uncertainty has also deepened anxiety among Biharis already living in the region. Several have taken to social media, saying they left their families in search of livelihoods and now fear for their safety. Some have appealed to the central and Bihar governments to arrange special flights if the situation deteriorates further.
Families in Bihar say they are relying on television and social media for updates as communication with relatives has become patchy. Internet services in parts of the region have reportedly been disrupted, making regular contact difficult.
An estimated nine million Indians live and work across the Middle East, including large numbers from Bihar. Most are employed in construction, hospitality, retail and other service sectors. Thousands of students from India are also in the region, adding to concerns among families.
Residents in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have described heightened tension, with sirens and reports of missile activity fuelling fear. Workers in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also reported unease as airspace closures leave many stranded.
Mohammed Mansoor, who works for a construction company in Dubai, said his flight from Hyderabad to Dubai had been cancelled. “I had to apply for a refund. My job is also in trouble,” he said.
Shamsad, employed in fire safety in Dubai, said his leave had ended and he was due to return within days. “Flights are cancelled until March 5. If you don’t arrive on time, you could lose your job,” he said.
Rehana, whose husband works as a salesman in Saudi Arabia, said he had come home on leave and learned at Patna airport that his return flight had been cancelled. “He had no option but to return home,” she said.
Shahzad Alam, who works in a bakery in Riyadh, said his connecting flight from Mumbai had also been cancelled. “There are no flights available. I don’t know when I will be able to return,” he said.
With no clarity on when normal operations will resume, migrant workers and their families remain in a state of uncertainty, watching developments in West Asia with mounting concern.
