Kerala launches 24/7 NORKA helpdesk as US-Israel strikes on Iran ignite Gulf crisis

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has launched an emergency response to safeguard its massive overseas workforce as military hostilities between Iran and Israel escalate into a broader regional crisis.

The move follows a wave of joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, which triggered a retaliatory barrage of approximately 30 missiles from Tehran toward Israel. The exchange has plunged the Middle East into volatility, with explosions reported as far as Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, and prompted Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates to shut down their airspaces.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday ordered the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) Department to establish a dedicated 24-hour helpdesk to assist the hundreds of thousands of Malayalis working across the Gulf.

Economic and Humanitarian Stakes

For Kerala, the stability of the Persian Gulf is an existential concern. The state’s economy is heavily reliant on remittances from millions of expatriates employed in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

"The developments have triggered anxiety in Kerala, which has a substantial diaspora presence... making stability in the Gulf critical to both families and the state’s remittance-driven economy," officials noted. The new NORKA facility is tasked with monitoring the security landscape, coordinating with Indian embassies, and providing real-time advisories to worried families back home.

Regional Alert

The crisis has rapidly expanded beyond the initial strike zones:

• Retaliation: Tehran has warned that all U.S. and Israeli military installations in the region are now "potential targets."
• Airspace Closures: Regional hubs in Dubai and Doha have suspended flights, stranding travellers and disrupting vital logistics.
• Casualties and Damage: While Israel has not fully disclosed the impact of the Iranian missile barrage, the activation of its Iron Dome and Arrow defence systems confirmed the scale of the coordinated assault.

Official Guidance

The Kerala government is urging all citizens abroad to strictly adhere to instructions from the Union Ministry of External Affairs and local Indian missions. The helpdesk can be reached through the NORKA Global Contact Centre at +91-8802012345 for international callers or 18004253939 for those within India.

"Officials described the move as precautionary but essential, given the rapidly evolving security landscape," a state spokesperson said. The proactive outreach reflects New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram’s shared priority of protecting the Indian diaspora, which remains the largest in the world.

With inputs from IANS