CHANDIGARH, March 4 — Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has urged the Government of India to deploy special aircraft to evacuate Punjabis currently stranded in the volatile Middle East region. Following a high-level dialogue with Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday, the Chief Minister declared that the evacuation process is now underway with the full cooperation of federal authorities.
The Chief Minister affirmed that the state has already submitted a detailed registry of stranded persons to the Union Ministry. He maintained that the state’s NRI Wing is operating a round-the-clock helpline to provide information and support to distressed relatives. According to the Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh has been tasked with overseeing the direct coordination with the Civil Aviation Ministry to leave no stone unturned in the mission.
“I urged him that these Punjabis must be evacuated at the earliest so that they can reunite with their distressed families back in Punjab,” CM Mann stated regarding his conversation with the Union Minister. He further asserted that the Punjab Government is duty-bound to support its citizens in this hour of crisis, emphasizing that the safe return of students and workers from the Gulf is a matter of utmost urgency.
The Chief Minister also noted the stellar role played by the people of Punjab in safeguarding the country’s integrity, declaring it a national responsibility to ensure their safety abroad. He affirmed that the state administration remains in constant contact with the Centre to monitor the situation. For those seeking assistance, the government has released dedicated landline and WhatsApp numbers to ensure seamless communication during the ongoing evacuation efforts.
