NEW DELHI, June 3 (HS): Congress General Secretary (Organisation) and Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), K. C. Venugopal, has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging immediate intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian nationals stranded in Kuwait following Iranian drone and missile attacks near Kuwait International Airport.

In his letter, Venugopal stated that a large number of Indian citizens remain stranded at the airport and surrounding areas in the aftermath of the attacks and are facing a situation marked by fear and uncertainty. He appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs to activate crisis-management measures on a war footing.

He urged the External Affairs Minister to direct the Indian Embassy in Kuwait to immediately relocate all Indian nationals to secure shelters. He also called for urgent coordination with airport authorities and the Kuwaiti government to ensure the provision of food, medical assistance, and other essential services to those affected.

Venugopal further stressed that the Government of India should issue strict directions to all concerned airlines to ensure that travel rescheduling for affected passengers is carried out entirely free of charge.

In addition, he suggested the establishment of a 24x7 emergency toll-free helpline to assist stranded Indians with timely information, guidance, and support. He also sought the issuance of emergency travel certificates for passengers who may have lost their travel documents, enabling their safe return to India.

It is noteworthy that Kuwait International Airport reportedly came under missile and drone attack, allegedly launched by Iran. Terminal 1 was said to have been targeted, resulting in injuries to several individuals and extensive damage to airport infrastructure. Reports have also indicated at least one fatality.

Following the incident, all flight operations were suspended with immediate effect. The Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) announced that the airport’s emergency response plan had been activated.

PACA spokesperson Abdullah Al-Rajhi stated that all prescribed protocols were being implemented to ensure the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airport facilities. Authorities confirmed that air traffic was completely suspended after the missile and drone strikes on Terminal 1, with several flights diverted to nearby airports.

Technical and security agencies are currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by the latest attack, while emergency response teams continue to monitor the situation closely.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar