The Andhra Pradesh government has opened a control room at Hyderabad Airport to provide necessary assistance to the returnees from the Gulf in the wake of the war in Iraq.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also instructed Secretary (Political), General Administration Department, to keep in touch with the Indian embassies in the Gulf countries and monitor the progress of Indians, particularly from Andhra Pradesh.

The secretary said, "In view of the war in Iraq, Indians staying in Iraq, Kuwait and other Gulf countries are returning to their homes. Several Andhra families, particularly from Hyderabad and neighbouring districts are likely to return to the state."

He said that the control room at Hyderabad airport would function under the Additional Director Protocol M Jagannadhan. The Deputy Director Protocol (airport cell) K Krishna and his staff would be available in the control room to provide necessary assistance.

Information regarding the arrival and departure of the flights from and to Kuwait and other Gulf countries would be provided at the control room.

Krishna would be available on phone numbers 040-27903710 and 98480-44745 and Jagannadhan could be reached on phone numbers 040-23242644 and 98480-54744.