About 20-25 young Indian workers are facing daily missile attacks as their families live in fear, holding video calls to hear loved ones amid war sirens and bombings
BARABANKI – The ongoing Israel and Iran conflict has brought fresh fear to families of Indian workers from Uttar Pradesh who are living and working in Israel. Around 20 to 25 young men from the Barabanki district are currently in Israel, earning well but facing constant danger amid daily missile strikes. Their families back home live with growing anxiety, trying to stay connected through video calls while hearing the terrifying sounds of sirens and explosions.
The situation is tense. Families in Barabanki say they now speak with their loved ones in Israel every day to know about their safety. When the sirens suddenly sound during a video call, panic sweeps through the family homes.
“Every time we hear the sirens or explosions during a call, our hearts tremble with fear,” said Raju Singh, a resident of Saleh Nagar colony in the Diwan police station area. “We pray for their safety every day.”
About nine months ago, when there was a similar conflict between Israel and Iran, the families were equally worried. Now the conflict has intensified, reviving old fears and uncertainties.
Among those working in Israel from Saleh Nagar are Raju Singh’s nephew KP Singh, Janinder Pratap Singh (his uncle’s son), Lalit Singh (his elder brother’s son), and others, including neighbours Mono, Sanjay, Mangal Singh, and Dinesh Singh. All told, around 20 to 25 young men from the village have been in Israel for roughly a year.
Raju Singh explained, “Their monthly salary ranges from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh. The money is good, but the situation is very dangerous.”
Vinod Singh, another resident of the colony, said his son Rakesh has been in Israel for about a year as well.
Vinod Singh described the moment he heard his son’s voice after a missile attack last Saturday. “Rakesh called me and told me they are all safe,” said Vinod. “He said whenever the sirens go off, they immediately run to the bunkers. It’s frightening, but they try to stay calm.”
Rakesh shared some videos with his family, though his employers have strictly forbidden sending videos from the work site. The videos show bombings and missile strikes.
Vinod said, “Rakesh told us that about 150 to 200 missiles fall every day. He said, ‘You say you earn one lakh or two lakh rupees, but look at the missiles. If one or two missiles land, the others get destroyed in the air.’”
Raju Singh mentioned that the workers have stopped going out for work for the past four days. “They only go out during the day when it is relatively safer,” he said.
Munu Singh, who has been living in Israel for almost a year, told his family through a video call, “As soon as there is any danger, the siren starts. We all rush to the bunkers for safety.”
According to the families, the government in Israel takes care of these workers. Still, the sound of sirens and explosions during video calls leaves everyone shaken.
“War is war. Even if they say they are safe, a person always feels fear,” said Raju Singh.
The presence of these young workers in Israel is part of a larger agreement between the governments of India and Israel. After signing a deal to employ Indian construction workers in Israel, India’s National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has sent skilled workers from several districts of Uttar Pradesh to Israel.
This programme is managed under an agreement with the Israeli Population Immigration and Border Authority (PIBA).
Barabanki is among the districts that have contributed youth to this workforce, along with others across Uttar Pradesh.
While the families take pride in the good salaries their sons earn, they worry about their safety amid ongoing violence. The constant sound of sirens and explosions during video calls serves as a grim reminder of the risks their loved ones face every day.
Raju Singh expressed his fears clearly: “We want peace. We want our boys to return safely. Every day is a struggle between hope and fear for us.”
The families remain in close contact with their sons, hoping for a calm and quick resolution to the conflict that threatens their futures.
The Israel-Iran war is not just a distant conflict for these families in Barabanki; it is a daily reality. The young men working far from home in a war zone face danger every day, while their families back in India endure sleepless nights and anxious video calls.
The story of these youth reflects the larger human cost of international conflicts, reminding us how wars affect lives beyond borders and how families hold on to hope amid uncertainty.
