In a stark contrast of events, Nagpur's Aboli Jarit, who was celebrated at the Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier this week, found herself stranded and distressed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday. The 22-year-old, recently honored by President Draupadi Murmu, was left waiting for hours with her family after their IndiGo flight was abruptly cancelled.
From Presidential Honors to Airport Ordeal
Just days before this unfortunate incident, Aboli Jarit's achievements were in the national spotlight. On Tuesday, she received recognition from President Draupadi Murmu at the National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2025. The ceremony was a proud moment for Aboli, who is recognized as India's first wheelchair model, a singer, and a motivational speaker.
Born without a urinary bladder and with a damaged kidney, Aboli began her modelling journey eight years ago. Her participation in a reality TV show propelled her to wider fame. To celebrate her presidential honor, her entire family travelled to the capital. Her parents, aunt, brother, and two sisters from Pune gathered in Delhi for the momentous occasion.
The Stranding at IGI Airport
The family's plan to return home to Nagpur on a 4 pm IndiGo flight turned into a prolonged ordeal. Despite receiving confirmation that the flight was on schedule, they arrived at Terminal 3 of IGI Airport to discover it would not be departing. The cancellation left the Jarit family, including Aboli's 15-year-old cousin who held her wheelchair, in a difficult situation.
Aboli's mother, Vanita Jarit, expressed the family's distress. Her aunt highlighted the specific challenges, stating, "It is tough for us to keep on waiting here. Because of her medical issues, Aboli can't sit like this for long." The family was forced to wait for several hours before the airline provided water and snacks.
Family Separated and Professional Commitments Missed
The flight disruption caused significant personal and professional fallout. Aboli's sister, 23-year-old Sakshi Jarit, an interior designer from Pune, had left the hotel early for her flight. When the rest of the family arrived later, they found her still waiting at the airport. Sakshi realized her flight was cancelled only when its number disappeared from the display boards.
"I tried to speak to IndiGo officials, but they didn't give a proper response and walked away," Sakshi told reporters. She added that the unexpected delay caused her to miss important work meetings. With alternative flights priced exorbitantly—around Rs 49,000 to Nagpur and Rs 30,000 to Pune—the family felt trapped. Their hotel has offered them accommodation if they cannot leave Delhi soon.
This incident casts a shadow on the travel experience for persons with disabilities in India, juxtaposing national recognition with ground-level systemic challenges in essential services like air travel.
