Patna: Family members of about half a dozen residents fromVaishali and Samastipur districts in north Bihar have sought the intervention of the external affairs ministry to rescue them from Muscat in Oman.

Faiz Alam, 55, Mukhtar Alam, 45, Aftab Alam, 40, and Farid Alam, residents of Janahada and Mahnar blocks of Vaishali district, sent videos to their family members saying they were in deep trouble. Two other residents of neighbouring Shahpur Patori were facing similar problems and have informed their family members over the phone. "We don't have money to return home as we have not been paid salaries for the past eight months," said Farid Alam of Mubarakpur under Jandaha block in Vaishali district.

They all were taken to Muscat in Oman by a Kolkata-based agency to work in a construction company last year. Their visa expired and they didn't have money to buy return tickets. The construction company, which hired them, was incurring losses for the past two consecutive years.

Gulshan Khatoon, wife of Mukhtar Alam of Bajitpur Chakusman village under Mahnar block, said her husband had been working there for about nine years. "Two days ago, we received a video clip in which my husband was pleading for help. He has not eaten for the past three days," she said.

Gulshan said her husband was sick and no medical facility was available. "He left his job as he was not getting regular pay. He couldn't return as his visa had expired and the firm that took him to Muscat refused to provide any assistance. "I appeal to the Centre to listen to the pathetic condition of our kin," Khatoon said.

Other residents, such as Sultan Ahmed, Shahbaz Alam, Abdul Shami and Gulrez Alam, said they returned to their village a few months back after paying a fine to the firm that took them to Oman. "Several Indians have died for lack of medical facilities and proper food," Sultan said.

The district magistrate (in-charge) of Vaishali, Sarwa Narayan Yadav, said he has asked sub-divisional officers of Jandaha and Mahnar blocks to contact family members of the affected people and get detailed information about their problems. "The district administration will provide assistance, if required," he told The Telegraph over phone.

Samastipur district magistrate (DM) Pranav Kumar said information about those hailing from Shahpur Patori sub-division was being gathered. "We have come to know about the detention in Oman from media reports. Family members have not yet contacted us for help," he said.

Relatives of those who had been detained alleged the police thrashed them when they tried to exert pressure on the firm to pay them. "Even the labour court didn't come to their rescue," a relative said.

Last month, bodies of six out of seven Siwan residents were brought from Iraq and handed over to their kin. They had gone to Iraq in 2014 and were subsequently taken hostage and killed by terrorists.