BHUBANESWAR: Even as the nurses returned to India from Iraq on Saturday morning following successful negotiations by the Centre, at least five Odias are still stuck-up in the strife-torn country.
All of them belong to Kendrapara district and are engaged as plumbers in Iraq, sources said. As reports of nurses being held hostage did the rounds, the district labour officials found out about the five Odias who had travelled to Iraq in connection with work.
Three of them belonged to Maho village and are currently in Iraq’s Nafaj province. They are stated to be in constant touch with their families and have expressed their unwillingness to return since they are safe.
However, the location of others was yet to be ascertained and their families said, the duo wanted to return.
The Labour and Employees State Insurance Department is reported to have initiated steps to get in touch with Ministry of External Affairs in this regard.