Some Leave Out of Necessity, Others Stay as Life Goes On

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

While some residents have chosen to leave Bahrain due to personal emergencies, pre-planned travel, or medical needs, many others continue to remain in the Kingdom, carrying on with work, family responsibilities, and daily life despite ongoing uncertainties.

Community groups such as Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS), Kannada Sangha Bahrain, Nav Bharat, and several others have been at the forefront, actively coordinating logistics, arranging repatriation flights in liaison with Gulf air noting that most departures have been driven by circumstances rather than panic.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, P. V. Radhakrishna Pillai, President of Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam, said, “Those leaving are mostly stranded visitors on transit, short-term visas, elderly residents, people with medical needs, and families who had already planned trips for Eid or the festival season. Most of those travelling had already planned their trips, and panic departures are very minimal, probably less than five percent.”

He added that some companies have temporarily advised employees to take leave, while others are travelling for personal reasons. BKS, which has already arranged two flights and plans more in the coming days, has been helping residents reach home safely and providing financial assistance when needed.

 Kannada Sangha Bahrain has successfully arranged three fully booked repatriation flights on March 15 and 16, prioritising medical emergencies, senior citizens, and those in urgent need. Meanwhile, Nav Bharat has scheduled additional flights to Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kochi, all of which are already fully booked in the coming days.

While some leave out of necessity, the majority of Bahrain’s population, both nationals and long-term expatriates, continue to remain in the Kingdom, carrying on with their work and daily responsibilities. Many are staying because of work and financial commitments, family responsibilities, school-going children, or deep ties to the Kingdom. Some are long-time residents who consider Bahrain home and prefer to wait out the situation rather than leave.

“Bahrain is home. We work here, have lived here for many years, and we can’t afford to start from scratch all over again if we leave,” said Anjisha, a long-time resident. “This too shall pass, and we are all in this together.”