Nabagha Tripathy and wife from Mohu village in Kendrapara hold the photo of their sons who are stranded in Iraq. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, July 9: Six plumbers from the district are stranded in civil war-hit Iraq, according to official reports.

Unofficial estimates reveal that nearly 1,000 skilled workers, mostly plumbers, are working in oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Baharin and Sharjah.

“There are not many in Iraq and Iran. So far, we have found six labourers working in Iraq though unofficial reports put the figure around 60,” said district labour officer Bighnajit Mohapatra.

Of the six, who are in Iraq, two are reported to be in Nafaj province of the country. Family members of Madan Mohan Mallick, 28, from Pattamundai’s Nandininagar and Santosh Kumar Mallick, 45, of Sandhapalli have sought the administration’s intervention for their safe return. The administration has drawn the attention of state labour directorate in this regard.

“The administration would render all possible help towards those stranded in Iraq,” said Kendrapara collector Pramod Kumar Dash.

“Three plumbers from Maho village in Aul block are reported to be safe in Iraq. We have met their family members, who are in constant touch with Iraq-based workers,” he said.

The overseas wing of the external affairs ministry deals with workers, who are based abroad. “The crux of the problem is that these migrant workers do not come under the Inter-state Migrant Workmen Act, 1979. We have no administrative control over such things. The immigration wing of Union external affairs ministry deals with this,” Dash said.

Health minister and Mahakalpada MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said: “The state government is on the job to ensure the safe return of overseas workers. The Odisha government has taken up the matter with the Centre.”

“Keeping in view the vulnerability of Kendrapara migrant workers based abroad, the district administration should create a registry to monitor their working conditions and protect them from exploitation by employers,” said trade unionist Gayadhar Dhal.

Many have fallen prey to hazard of working in alien and inhospitable living condition.

A couple from Kendrapara district had experienced a harrowing ordeal after being jailed in Saudi Arab for allegedly practising black magic. The couple were repatriated to their native place following intervention by the Union external affairs ministry.