Mumbaikars Return Home After Tense Wait Amid Middle East Conflict
A three-day wait that felt endless finally concluded with immense relief for hundreds of Mumbaikars who had been stranded in the conflict-ridden Middle East since February 28. Their homecoming began on Tuesday as several airlines, including Emirates, Etihad, Air India, and IndiGo, resumed select flights to India, bringing citizens back to safety.
Repatriation Flights Bring Citizens Home
Five repatriation flights are scheduled to arrive at Mumbai airport on Wednesday, marking a significant effort to bring stranded individuals back. The flights include Royal Jordanian flight RJ190 from Amman expected at 1:40 am, Emirates flight EK500 from Dubai at 2:15 am, SpiceJet flight SG9031 from Fujairah at 4:00 am, Gulf Air flight GF2064 from Dammam at 5:50 am, and SpiceJet flight SG9014 from Fujairah at 6:25 am. These arrivals follow Tuesday's initial wave of returnees, with more expected in the coming days.
Emotional Reunions at Mumbai Airport
On Tuesday, heartwarming scenes unfolded at the airport as families reunited. One particularly moving moment involved the wife of passenger Nirav Modi, who was seen tearfully embracing her twin babies after picking them up from their prams. Nirav and the infants had returned to the city via Muscat, highlighting the complex travel routes many had to undertake.
Government and Political Efforts in Repatriation
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that two special Dubai-Mumbai flights had been arranged to repatriate 164 stranded passengers from Maharashtra. Shiv Sena functionaries revealed that Shinde had also organized a chartered flight on Tuesday for students and staff of a Pune management institute stuck in Dubai. Shinde stated that stranded residents had reached out for assistance, and he reassured them over the phone.
"Dr Sanjeev Paithankar in Dubai, office bearers of Maharashtra Mandal, and Rahul Kanal of Yuva Sena were in touch with the tourists and students there. Arrangements have been made by Shiv Sena to send two special planes, and the passengers have left for Mumbai. This includes 164 people from Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Murbad, Shahapur, and Ahilyanagar," Shinde explained.
He added, "I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his instant response and consistent assistance to Indians during overseas emergencies."
Complex Travel Routes and High Costs
Many returnees opted for arduous journeys to escape the conflict zone. Several Dubai-based individuals traveled six hours by road to neighboring Oman, which remains isolated from the war, before boarding flights to Mumbai. Among them was South Mumbai-based builder Harshil Chordia, who had publicly pleaded for evacuation from Dubai on social media two days prior, along with his acquaintance Parthh Mehta.
Malabar Hill businessman Parag Jhaveri undertook a similar route, traveling by road from Dubai to Oman and then flying to Mumbai on Tuesday, incurring a one-way cost of Rs 1.6 lakh. "I did not wish to linger in Dubai as my parents, wife, and son back home were anxious," he shared. Jhaveri, who was returning from Africa, had landed in Dubai on February 27 and faced multiple flight cancellations. "Three flights I booked got cancelled. I decided to travel to Oman instead." He noted that an economy class seat from Oman cost Rs 75,000, with cab rides within Oman adding another Rs 55,000 to expenses. "Normally, I would have purchased a business class return ticket for the same cost."
Personal Stories of Relief and Community Support
Evacuee Vishakha expressed her relief, stating, "It was a tense time, but we are here now, so we are happy. Our company group of 580 people had traveled there, and they are all coming back gradually." Another passenger rushed to take the first flight out of Abu Dhabi upon hearing that UAE was set to resume flights.
In Dubai, community support emerged as a restaurant provided free meals to stranded Indians, a gesture highlighted by BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha in an online post. Meanwhile, the Thane district administration has established a special cell to assist affected families.
Airlines Adjust Operations Amid Uncertainty
At Mumbai airport, airlines cancelled 107 flights on Tuesday due to the ongoing situation. However, Indian carriers began curtailed operations to the Middle East. IndiGo operated four flights to Jeddah and one to Muscat, with plans to increase flights from Wednesday to include Muscat, Jeddah, Madinah, and Athens, totaling 13 return flights. The airline indicated that repatriation flights to the UAE would depend on the local situation. Air India also operated a repatriation flight from Dubai to Delhi, contributing to the broader effort.
As Mumbaikars continue to return home, their stories underscore the challenges faced during international conflicts and the collective efforts to ensure their safe passage back to India.
