Thiruvananthapuram: As tensions escalated between Iran and Israel, NORKA, which oversees matters related to non-resident Keralites, on Saturday set up helplines for people from the state in Iran, Israel and other West Asian countries, a CMO statement said.

According to the statement, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordered the setting up of help desks to provide necessary help to people stuck in the war-hit regions.

Keralites in need of assistance can register by contacting the helpdesk numbers of the NORKA Global Contact Centre, namely +91-8802012345 (for international missed calls) and 18004253939 (toll-free number from India), it said.

It further said that Indian citizens should follow the instructions of the Indian embassies in the respective countries and the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) oversees matters related to Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs).