Bengaluru Family's Plea as Elderly Matriarch Stranded in Doha
A distressing situation has unfolded for a family from Bengaluru, as their 70-plus-year-old grandmother has been stranded at Hamad International Airport in Doha for over 24 hours. The crisis was highlighted by her grandson, Saswat Biswas, who uses the X handle @TakezoInTheWind, in a desperate appeal for help.
The elderly woman was scheduled to travel on Air India flight AI2284 from Doha to Kolkata via Delhi. She was returning home after spending two months in Doha with her son and daughter-in-law. However, her journey was abruptly halted due to widespread flight disruptions caused by a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.
Volcanic Ash Creates Air Travel Chaos
The root cause of the massive travel disruption is the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia. The volcano spewed enormous quantities of ash, which drifted westward over the Red Sea. Satellite imagery confirmed significant ash clouds along major flight paths, creating hazardous conditions that forced airlines, including Air India, to cancel or reroute their aircraft.
In response to the crisis, Air India has cancelled 13 flights since Monday. The airline has been posting updates on its official X account, which have been met with hundreds of responses from frustrated and stranded passengers.
A Race Against Time and an Expired Visa
The cancellation of flight AI2284 left Saswat Biswas's grandmother in a particularly vulnerable position. She was left stuck inside the airport terminal just as her visa for Qatar expired, legally preventing her from exiting the airport to seek more comfortable accommodation.
While Air India stated that hotel accommodation was being arranged for affected travelers in various locations, sources within the airline confirmed a critical shortage of hotel rooms in Doha. This was attributed to an ongoing soccer championship that has filled the city's hotels. As an alternative, the airline offered passengers access to airport lounges, along with meals and refreshments.
Unfortunately, this solution failed for the elderly woman and her uncle. They were unable to enter the lounge as it was already overflowing with other stranded flyers. "My grandmom is making do with whatever public seats are available in Hamad International Airport," Biswas revealed in an Instagram post, adding to the concern by noting that her essential medications were locked away in her checked-in baggage.
After hours of uncertainty, a glimmer of hope emerged. A rescheduled flight was finally confirmed for 1 am local time on Wednesday. This departure time meant the elderly passenger would have endured a grueling wait of approximately 27 hours since her original flight was supposed to take off.
This incident is part of a larger wave of disruptions affecting India's aviation sector. At Delhi airport alone, seven international flights were cancelled and over ten were delayed as the volcanic ash continued to impact key air routes. Authorities have stated they are monitoring global advisories and satellite data closely, with normal operations expected to resume only once conditions stabilize.
