Elderly Indian Couple Stranded in Kuwait Amid West Asia Conflict Flight Cancellations
An elderly couple from Pooyappally, Kottarakkara in Kottayam district, Kerala, are stranded in Kuwait after their connecting flight to London was abruptly cancelled due to the escalating West Asia conflict. Idikkula Kochumman, 81, and his wife Rosamma Kochumman, 69, were en route to visit their daughter in London when the disruption occurred, leaving them spending anxious hours at a hotel in the Gulf nation.
Flight Disruption and Immediate Hardships
The couple boarded a flight to Kuwait on Saturday morning, with wheelchair assistance arranged by their daughter Princy, a nurse in London. However, as they settled into their seats for the connecting flight to London, chaos erupted. "Suddenly, there was a commotion inside the flight and we saw passengers running out carrying their baggage," Rosamma recounted. In the ensuing rush to evacuate, they were unable to collect their baggage, which contained essential items like clothes and, critically, medications.
Without their luggage and unfamiliar with digital transactions, the couple struggled to secure basic necessities. "We were tired, and it was time for my husband to take insulin. Since we did not have any digital payment systems on our mobile phones, we could not buy food either," Rosamma said. Their situation was alleviated temporarily when a Nepali girl kindly purchased two burgers and water for them.
Accommodation and Ongoing Challenges
After being escorted through multiple passport checks and boarding a bus, the couple were placed in a hotel in Salmiya. However, payments for services had to be made digitally, posing another hurdle. Fortunately, a relative residing in Kuwait came to their aid. "Initially, he was not allowed to come to our room on the seventh floor and we had to go down in the lift to the reception to collect food. Later on, they allowed him to our room," Rosamma explained.
On Sunday night, they received a call to identify their baggage among hundreds piled up at the airport, but their bags were missing. "We got breakfast this morning, the only time we were served food for free," she added, highlighting the sporadic support they have received.
Health Concerns and Uncertain Future
Kochumman, a retired government servant, has recently undergone two surgeries and suffers from diabetes, making the lack of medicines particularly alarming. The couple's anxiety is compounded by the ongoing conflict. "We are uncertain about our future. I do not know when this war will get over," Rosamma expressed. Their children have advised them to keep all necessary documents ready at all times, even while sleeping, in case they need to evacuate the hotel urgently.
This incident underscores the broader impact of the West Asia conflict, which has included reports of Israel attacking Iran, a US F-15 down in Kuwait, Iranian state media claiming a US fighter jet was downed in Kuwait, explosions in Bahrain, Dubai, and Doha, and Israel bombing Hezbollah targets in Beirut, with Gulf nations vowing to defend themselves. For the Kochumman couple, these geopolitical tensions have translated into a personal crisis, leaving them in a precarious situation far from home.
