Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has asked Chief Secretary Anu Garg to take the necessary steps for swift evacuation of Odia people from the war-torn Middle East.

The Chief Minister also asked the officials to keep track of the situation in the Middle East and take appropriate steps for bringing back the Odia people, who are stranded in the war-torn region due to disruption in flight services.

The Odisha government had convened a high-level meeting, chaired by the Chief Secretary, on March 2 to take stock of the situation in the Middle East.

Following the discussion, the state government set up a dedicated working group to coordinate assistance and share information with Odias residing in the Middle East. The group was formed in collaboration with Odisha Parivar, the State Home Department, the Directorate of Labour, and various Non-Resident Indian associations.  

Pritish Panda, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Directorate of Odisha Parivar, was appointed as the nodal officer for the purpose.

“The Directorate of Odisha Parivar has so far received 200 calls from the stranded Odias. It has contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and extended support to those people,” said the state government.

The Directorate of Odisha Parivar is in touch with the members of Odia associations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and assessing the situation, added the state government.

“Altogether 35 Odia people have so far returned home in two phases,” said the government.

The Ministry of External Affairs, meanwhile, issued toll free no. 1800118797 for the stranded Indians in the Middle East. The stranded people can contact the control room, set up by the Ministry, from 9 am to 9 pm.