Stranded nurses in Iraq: Kerala Chief Minister seeks Prime Minister's intervention

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala government today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to evacuate Indian nurses stranded in war-torn Iraq if necessary by arranging a special chartered Air India flight.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, in a letter to the Prime Minister, pointed out that 46 Indian nurses, mostly from Kerala, were stranded in the General Hospital in Tikrit. "They are forced to work with less wages and limited food," he said. They should be brought back at government's expense, he said adding "if necessary a special Air India flight may be arranged to bring them back".

The hospital authorities in Tikrit were demanding heavy cash compensation from the nurses who want to return to India, he said. "They are unable to pay it," Chandy said. The Indian Embassy may be directed to contact the hospital management and resolve the issue. The help and intervention of UN and Red Cross also must be sought, he added.