You need to check your facts doubleu-anker. The strike has nothing to do with expats.
from the news article...
The striking pilots, owing allegiance to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association of the former Indian Airlines, which merged with Air India later, have struck work demanding parity in pay with the Air India pilots and other issues related to work conditions.
Perhaps an IC or AI crewmember could comment.
Anyway there were a few, not many, but a few AI flights operating between India and the Mid East last evening.
Hope all gets resolved by all.