NIZAMABAD: Around 40 youths from Telangana state have been stranded in Sharjah for the last 10 days. They never imagined when they went to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this month that they would be stuck there, hungry and unemployed. The youths, from undivided Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts, went to Sharjah in the first week of May with high expectations and hopes of employment.

They called their families on Monday and narrated their predicament. Reportedly, a Gulf agent from Talveda village in Nandipet mandal of Nizamabad district had promised them employment in housekeeping at Sharjah. So the youths, from Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Jagtial districts paid Rs 75,000 each to the agent and flew to Sharjah. They appeared for interviews in Sharjah and were rejected for housekeeping jobs, because of the age bar. As per their visit visa, they are allowed to stay in Sharjah for only 12 days. Currently, the youths are confined to a room and no food is served to them.

According to their family members, the agent had promised to provide food and accommodation till their employment was finalised. Now they could face charges of illegal immigration. The family said no one had come forward to help them. The victims urged the Telangana government to aid them. Meanwhile, the agent in question from Nizamabad district had eluded his responsibility, they said.