Latest news with #NORKA
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
70 Keralite students in border States reach New Delhi: CMO
As many as 70 Malayalee students enrolled in central and State universities in regions bordering Pakistan arrived at the Kerala House in New Delhi on Saturday (May 10, 2025) morning en route to Kerala, according to a press release issued by the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (CMO). According to the CMO, the government will ensure their timely travel to Kerala via air and rail. The Kerala government has set up control rooms with 24/7 helplines to provide assistance and support to Keralites in States bordering Pakistan, amidst the India-Pakistan conflict situation. (The numbers are 0471-2517500/2517600, fax: 0471-2322600, and email:cdmdkerala@ The NORKA Global Contact Centre would offer real-time help (18004253939—toll-free) and a missed call number (009118802012345). The government also established a helpline (01123747079) for Malayalees seeking to return to Kerala. The CMO said the students sought government assistance by ringing or emailing the control rooms at the Kerala House in New Delhi, the Government Secretariat, and the NORKA State headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. Additional Resident Commissioner, Kerala House, Chethan Kumar Meena, is coordinating the operation. Expedite process: Satheesan In a statement, the Leader of the Opposition said he had sought Mr Vijayan's help to expedite the return of Keralites, including students, 'stranded' in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Mr. Satheesan said at least 240 students from Kerala who signed up for studies in educational institutions in States bordering Pakistan had sought help to return home, given the conflict between the two neighbouring countries. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) informed that All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal was in touch with the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, to ensure the safety of Keralites. The KPCC said Mr. Venugopal sought Mr Abdullah's help to arrange safe transport for Malayalees. He also wrote a letter to the Railway Board Chairperson to arrange special coaches for Malayalees seeking to return to Kerala from North India, especially in the Mangala Express.
India Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Control rooms opened in Kerala to assist Malayalis living near Pakistan border
In response to the escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan border, the Kerala government has established control rooms at the Secretariat and the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department to assist Malayalis and students from the state residing in the border move follows orders from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, issued in the wake of recent cross-border hostilities. A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed the development, while also assuring the public that 'there is no need to be worried' at government urged Malayalis in the affected areas to remain calm, follow official instructions and reach out if assistance is needed. Contact details for Kerala assistance centre:Secretariat control room:Phone: 0471-2517500, 0471-2517600Fax: 0471-2322600Email: cdmdkerala@ global contact centre:Toll-Free: 18004253939Missed Call (from abroad): 00918802012345The establishment of the control rooms comes after Pakistani armed forces launched a series of drone and munition attacks across the western border during the intervening night of May 8–9, which were 'effectively repulsed' by Indian forces, according to the Indian Army. Pakistani troops also reportedly carried out multiple ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and developments follow India's missile strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terror locations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and across Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 IN THIS STORY#Kerala#Jammu and Kashmir
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala government sets up control rooms to support malayalees amid Indo-Pak tensions
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Government has opened control rooms in the State Secretariat and Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs (NORKA) Department in the wake of the Indo-Pak conflict. The facility is to help its people in border states, especially students, who are in border states. A statement from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Office said the present situation does not warrant concerns. People should obey the instructions from authorities and remain safe. "If you need assistance, you can contact the control room number." it added. The government asked the Keralites in the state bordering Pakistan to follow the instructions given by the authorities and stay safe. The developments followed the precise missile strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan early Wednesday under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The Secretariat control room can be contacted over: 0471 - 2517500, 2517600. Fax: 0471 - 2322600. email: cdmdkerala@ NORKA global contact centre: 18004253939 (toll-free) 00918802012345 (missed call facility for foreign countries)
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala government opens control rooms to help Keralites in States bordering Pakistan
The Kerala government has established control rooms with 24/7 helplines to assist Keralites, including families and students, in States bordering Pakistan, given the India-Pakistan conflict situation. Also read: Operation Sindoor LIVE Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the control rooms would operate at the government Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. The numbers are 0471-2517500/2517600, fax: 0471-2322600, and e-mail: cdmdkerala@ The NORKA Global Contact Centre would offer real-time help (18004253939 – toll-free) and a missed call number (009118802012345).
The Print
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Pahalgam survivor returns to Kerala with flashes of panic, death & Kashmiris who came to her aid
'Musafir and Sameer took care of me like a sister and stood with me at the hospital, with all the identification I needed to show at the hospital, till 3 am. Yesterday (Wednesday), when I was saying bye to them at the airport, I told them: 'I have two brothers in Kashmir and may Allah keep them safe',' Arathi Thursday told media persons. Two local Kashmiri cab drivers, Musafir and Sameer, helped her the entire night when she had to go through hospital procedures around her father's demise, Arathi said, a day after returning to Kochi. Thiruvananthapuram: 'Local Kashmiris treated me like a sister', said Arathi R. Menon, the daughter of N. Ramachandran, a native of Kerala's Kochi and Gulf returnee, killed during the Pahalgam terror attack. N. Ramachandran was one of the 26 people killed Tuesday in the terror attack in Kashmir. His body was flown into Kerala late Wednesday night. Arathi, her twin sons, and her mother survived the attack, but one of the terrorists shot dead her father, N. Ramachandran. On 21 April, they landed in Kashmir for a family tour. Arathi said they encountered the terrorists in Baisaran, known as 'mini-Switzerland', within 10 minutes of reaching the popular tourist spot for adventure rides. 'I heard a gunshot far away and understood that it was a terror attack. I asked my father and my children to lie on the ground. After some time, we started running. It was a fenced area, and everyone was running in all directions,' Arathi said. 'After some time, a man, who was not wearing any army uniform, came and asked us to lie down again. We did not hear what he was asking others. We remained frozen on the spot. Then, they (terrorists) came towards us. They just asked one question—Kalma? We said in Hindi that we did not understand what the terrorists had asked. Within five seconds, my father was shot in front of us,' she said. Ramachandran's funeral is scheduled for Friday. Also Read: NDA faces Pahalgam heat from within: JDU MP slams 'intelligence failure', BJP leader points to 'lapses' 'Did not inform mother until later' The Kerala government set up a Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) help desk to assist Keralites still stranded in Kashmir. NORKA CEO Ajith Kolassery told ThePrint that by Thursday, 51 groups, including over 560 Malayalees, had registered with the NORKA. From the state, MLAs M. Mukesh, K.P.A. Majeed, T. Siddique, and K. Ansalan, and Kerala High Court judges Anil K. Narendran, P.G. Ajith Kumar, and g. Girish remain stuck in Kashmir, according to the chief minister's office. 'Of them (560 Keralites in Kashmir), 291 have already left Srinagar, and 104 will reach the state between today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday). Others will also be back by 27 April,' Ajith said. Arathi said she did not inform her mother, who was not present with the family at the time of the attack, about her father's death until much later. 'I told the police officials not to inform my mother. I had to take care of my children and mother and come back. I did not entertain any calls from the media, as well, because of my responsibilities. I had asked the staff at our hotel to remove TV connections from our room so that amma would not see the news. I told her that achan was hurt and in treatment. I had to pretend to be strong,' she said. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: India can keep the Indus Waters Treaty 'in abeyance', unilaterally. Here's why
