Iran-Israel War: As Netizens Track Celebs, UP-Bihar Families Pray For Their Plumbers & Students

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 13:37 IST

From villages in Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, families describe sleepless nights and tearful exchanges with expatriates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf cities

The ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict has spilled beyond military targets and into civilian life, disrupting air travel across the Gulf and leaving thousands of Indians stranded in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

While Indian netizens are focussed on celebrities like Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar, Bollywood actor Sonal Chauhan, Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and others stuck in Dubai following the suspension of flights, away from the limelight, families of scores of Indian migrant workers are waiting for their safe return.

Countless families in India are currently in a state of worry, clinging to every phone call and WhatsApp message from relatives stuck across the Gulf countries. From villages in Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, friends and families describe sleepless nights and tearful exchanges with expatriates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf cities, where flights have been cancelled and skies closed, leaving return routes uncertain.

Champaran, Bihar

A quiet village tucked away in Bihar’s East Champaran district has been gripped by anxiety as families await word from loved ones working in Dubai amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. Villagers in Pathanpatti, located in the Harsidhi block of East Champaran, say that more than 50 residents from Pathanpatti are currently employed in Dubai.

With reports of bombings and rising hostilities in the region, concern has deepened across the village, where anxious families spend sleepless nights tracking news updates and making frantic phone calls.

Wasir Alam Khan, a resident of the village, said his two sons, Rafiuallah Khan and Sarwar Ali Khan, work barely a kilometre from an area that has reportedly witnessed explosions. “We speak to them regularly over the phone. They say the situation is frightening. The bombings continue through the night, and they cannot sleep," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. According to him, routine life has been disrupted in the area where his sons are employed, with work coming to a halt in several places. “They remain awake all night out of fear. We are constantly worried about their safety," he added.

Wasir Alam said his sons had been working as plumbers in Bihar before moving to Dubai two years ago in search of better opportunities. “They left to secure their children’s future and education. Today, we cannot even eat properly because of tension," he said, breaking down. He appealed to the government to take urgent steps to ensure the safety of Indians working in the conflict-affected region. “The government should bring them back before anything worse happens," he urged.

Another villager, Afsar Alam Khan, echoed similar concerns. He said several residents from Pathanpatti are employed in Dubai across different professions. “So far, there has been no report of any casualty among people from our village, but the fear is constant," he said.

Amethi, Uttar Pradesh

Stress also hangs heavy over Bhanauli village in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district, where seven students who travelled to Iran for higher studies have reportedly lost contact with their families amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. Residents of the Musafirkhana area say the students, all from Bhanauli village under the Musafirkhana police station limits, left for Iran around 3 months ago to pursue their education. Until recently, they were in regular touch with their families. However, since the conflict intensified, communication has abruptly stopped, leaving relatives distressed and fearful.

When the Local18 team visited Bhanauli, an unusual silence had descended upon the village. Family members gathered in small groups, anxiously refreshing their phones for any message or call.

Amjad Khan, a relative of one of the students, said the families have been unable to establish contact for the past four days. “The situation there is becoming tense with each passing day. We can only look towards the government for help now. If conditions worsen, our children must be brought back safely," he said. He recalled that when the students had left three months ago, there was no indication of trouble. “Everything was normal. They went with hope and dreams. Today, we do not even know if they are safe," he added.

Another family member said his brother had also travelled to Iran for studies and had been in regular contact until a few days ago. “We used to speak frequently. Suddenly there is no news. We only pray that he returns home safely," he said. Safina Bano, whose son is among those stranded, said she has not spoken to him for four days. Struggling to contain her emotions, she appealed for urgent intervention to ensure the safe return of all the students.

Engineer Haider, another relative, drew parallels with past evacuation efforts. Referring to the rescue of Indians during the Ukraine conflict, he expressed hope that the Centre would act swiftly to safeguard students from the village. “Just as our people were brought back safely from Ukraine, we expect the same support now," he said, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government to intervene.

According to villagers, those stranded include 18-year-old Jabbar Khan, Syed Imam, Ali Mohammad, Amir Kumari, Tarheer, Sada (35) and Nusrat (55). Families say they remain in the dark about their whereabouts and condition.

Bagaha, Bihar

However, Saurabh Mishra, a resident of Bagaha in Bihar, who is currently based in Abu Dhabi, described the situation as “completely normal". During a telephonic conversation, Mishra said that life in the emirate remains unaffected. “Flights have been cancelled, but everything here is completely normal," Mishra said, “Shops and malls are open, traffic is moving smoothly, and there is no panic among residents."

Mishra added that his family had planned to travel from Lucknow to Abu Dhabi for a month-long visit. However, their flights were cancelled due to the prevailing airspace restrictions. “We were looking forward to celebrating together, but the trip has been postponed. That is the only disappointment," he said.

He also noted that the UAE government has been issuing timely advisories and keeping residents informed, urging people to remain calm. According to him, there has been no visible disruption to daily life in the areas where Indian expatriates reside.

In recent days, the confrontation involving United States, Israel and Iran has intensified, raising security concerns across West Asia. Several Middle Eastern nations have reported heightened alerts, and airspace restrictions have forced airlines to suspend or reroute flights. Aviation authorities worldwide are monitoring the situation closely as thousands of services stand affected.

Among the impacted destinations is Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, home to a large Indian migrant population. With the Holi festival being celebrated across India, many families had planned travel to reunite with loved ones. However, flight cancellations have disrupted these plans, leaving passengers anxious.

Globally, aviation data indicates that thousands of flights have been affected as airlines avoid sensitive air corridors. The crisis has left millions of travellers stranded or forced to reschedule their journeys.

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting lasting nearly 3 hours to review contingency plans and ensure the safety and possible evacuation of Indian nationals if required.

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