Families in Uttarakhand are anxiously waiting for the safe return of their relatives working in Gulf countries. Many migrants say their daily lives have been disrupted after the joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation.
Residents living in different parts of the UAE and Kuwait say movement has been restricted and security intensified in several areas as tensions in West Asia continue to rise.
Rihan, a resident of Sarai in the Jawalpur area who works as a driver in Kuwait, said missiles were seen flying over areas of Kuwait City. According to him, one missile struck near a US military base located a few kilometres away.
“When the explosion happened, I was driving some distance away from the spot. Soon after, black smoke could be seen rising in the sky and sirens started blaring across the city,” he said. He said that until four days ago, missiles fired from Iran could be clearly seen in the sky. Now they move at such high speeds that they strike their targets within seconds.
“There is chaos in Kuwait and people are worried,” Rihan said. He lives in the Shabal Ahmad area of Kuwait. He added that he speaks to his family in India every day to reassure them about his safety. However, his relatives have been asking him to return home once the situation becomes stable.
Rihan’s mother Shahnaz, who lives in Jwalapur, said she has been worried about her son’s wellbeing since the conflict began. "I usually talk to my son almost every day, but when I hear news of the worsening situation there, my heart sinks. I worry about my son's safety," she added.
Shahrukh, another resident of Jwalapur in Haridwar who lives in Sharjah, said that the situation in parts of Dubai has remained tense for the past five days. He said there were reports of sporadic attacks in the Marina, Sharjah and Jebel Ali areas, and authorities had advised people to stay indoors as a precaution.
Shahrukh, who works with Himanko Steel, said operations at his company had remained suspended for the past five days.
“A limited number of flights and some essential services resumed from Tuesday,” he said. He added that more than 100 Indians live in his residential society and are hoping that the situation improves soon.
The United States launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, in which Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed. Following the strikes, Iran launched a wave of retaliatory attacks mainly targeting Israel and US military bases across several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
In the last two days, the conflict has expanded significantly, with both sides carrying out repeated attacks and counter-attacks. India has called for restraint and urged that the crisis be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Also read: Middle East war intensifies after US tanks Iranian naval ship
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