3 Things Indians in the Gulf, an outbreak in Punjab, and US attacks Iranian ship
16 snips
Mar 6, 2026 Divya A, India Express reporter on Gulf affairs, outlines risks for 8.8 million Indians in Gulf states amid regional strikes and travel disruptions. Raakhi Jagga, The Indian Express correspondent on local health crises, reports on a waterborne outbreak in Ferozepur, contaminated wells, and strained local responses. They also cover the torpedoing of the Iranian vessel IRIS Dena and subsequent rescue efforts.
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Stranded Transit Passengers After Airspace Closure
- Tourists and transit passengers were stranded when UAE and Qatar airspace closed, forcing flights to divert unexpectedly.
- Divya A recounts a Chicago-to-Dubai flight diverted to Budapest where passengers lacked Schengen visas and faced uncertainty.
How Indian Migration To The Gulf Evolved
- Migration to the Gulf began in the 1970s with oil and exploded after 2000, diversifying from blue-collar to white-collar roles.
- Divya A notes over 3 million Indians in UAE now play visible economic roles from big weddings to regional offices post‑COVID.
Remittances Drive Strategic India Gulf Relations
- Gulf remittances are enormous and crucial to India, with RBI reporting $118.7 billion by 2025.
- Divya A connects this flow to intensified diplomatic engagement, including multiple PM visits to UAE since 2017.