Hyderabad: Yet another batch of 186 Indian nationals, stranded in war-ravaged Iraq, reached New Delhi by a special Iraqi Airways flight on Monday afternoon. Of the 186 people, over 84 were construction workers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, hailing from districts like Adilabad, Karimnagar, East Godavari, West Godavari and Hyderabad.
They arrived at the Shamshabad airport via three different flights and have been accommodated at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan. “Over 38 belong to Andhra Pradesh while the rest are from Telangana. Several of those who returned alleged that their employers refused to extend any help for their safe return to India. They also alleged that a Mumbai-based recruitment agency failed to offer any assistance,” an official said.
Gaddam Prabhakar, 22, a resident of the Venkatraopeta village, Konaraopeta mandal in Karimnagar district was jailed in Iraq on July 3, 2014, for not having proper documents. He went to Iraq two years ago in search of work. His parents Devaiah and Rajavva are now requesting the government to bring him back. “His passport and other documents are with the agent. Only the government can help bring him back to us. We do not even know how to communicate with the officials there. The embassy must help us,” his father said.
Earlier, on July 5, as many as 78 Indian workers arrived by a special Air India flight from Erbil. Of the 52 who were from Telangana state, 40 were from Karimnagar, nine from Adilabad, two from Nizamabad and one from Medak. The workers were on a contract ranging between six months and two years for monthly wages from $350 to $500. As many as 24 nurses from Andhra Pradesh also returned home the same day.
