The family members of Rajesh Gowda (26) in Kodimbala near Kadaba in Puttur taluk had no inkling of the trouble brewing in Yemen when they bid goodbye to him.
Mr. Gowda works as a Heating, Ventilating and Airconditioning (HVAC) Engineer in Yemen.
Mr. Rajesh was here for a month-long annual vacation and left on March 19 hoping that he would get to back work with new energy. But since the trouble started, the family has been trying to get him evacuated from Sana, the troubled capital of Yemen.
He has been in touch with his brother-in-law Radhakrishna Nandila, who has taken up the matter with Union Minister for Law and Justice D.V. Sadananda Gowda.
Though Mr. Gowda has assured that the family need not worry, concern is palpable at his home. Mr. Rajesh has been explaining over the phone that situation was getting bad to worse and the sound of guns going on and off could be heard.
“We had absolutely no hint that the country was heading for a strife,” Mr. Radhakrishna said, adding that they would not have sent Rajesh if there was any clue about it.
Mr. Gowda, son of farmer Chinnappa Gowda, had studied in Sullia and Puttur and had a diploma degree in Engineering. He was working in Yemen for three years and was coping well with the responsibilities. He had no immediate plans of discontinuing the job or returning to India. “It was all going on smoothly,” Mr. Radhakrishna said.
He has also been in touch with the district administration and hoped that the Indian embassy and the government would act quickly and bring Mr. Rajesh and other Indians back soon.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim told The Hindu that he has requested the State’s Additional Chief Secretary to the Department of Home to take up the matter with the Union government and the Indian embassy in Yemen with regard to Rajesh Gowda. All the details including a photograph of Mr. Gowda have been sent. He said the family had spoken to him on Tuesday, but he was yet to hear from the Home Department.
