Kolkata Families Stranded in Gulf Pray for Repatriation Flights Amid Regional Conflict
The news of potential resumption of some cargo and repatriation flights from Abu Dhabi has ignited a glimmer of hope for hundreds of individuals from Kolkata and across India who are desperately seeking to return home. This development comes despite the continued absence of confirmation regarding the restoration of normal flight operations in West Asia, as the region grapples with escalating tensions and military actions.
Voices from the Ground: Fear and Uncertainty
Upasana Sinha, currently sheltering in an Abu Dhabi hotel with two friends, described the precarious situation. "The environment here is far from stable. Although we are housed in a hotel, the distant sounds of bombing are audible, creating immense tension among everyone. We are uncertain about the proximity of these events, but the anxiety is palpable. If evacuation and repatriation flights commence, we urgently appeal to the embassy to facilitate our return, as there is no clarity on when regular air travel will resume," she expressed.
Equally distressed is Manisha Santaney (57), a resident of Park Street in Kolkata, who is stranded in Dubai with her daughter Meghna. "We came here for a holiday, arriving on February 26, with return flights scheduled for Tuesday. My flight was to Kolkata, and my daughter's to Vancouver, Canada. Both were cancelled due to airport closures. We are currently safe in our guest house, but we yearn to depart and seek the security of our homes at the earliest opportunity," the homemaker stated.
Political Connections and Personal Faith
Adding to the list of those affected is Priyadarshini Hakim, daughter of Bengal minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim. She is currently stranded in Mecca with her mother Ismat Hakim and daughter Aayat, relying on faith for solace. "We are staying within the mosque premises, which offers relative safety. The area is under army cordon with strict movement restrictions. Our return flight to Kolkata is booked for Wednesday, but given the unfolding circumstances, I doubt it will operate. We have initiated contact with the embassy and are exploring alternative routes via Jeddah to return home," she explained. "If this were a leisure trip, panic would set in. However, being at Allah's home, I have surrendered to His mercy."
Families in Anguish: Missing Loved Ones
For some families, the situation has escalated into a nightmare of uncertainty. Subhajit Bandyopadhyay, a resident of Raiganj in North Dinajpur who was working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last communicated with his family on Saturday. Since then, his phone has been unreachable. He was due to return to India on March 2, but multiple flight cancellations have left his family in the dark about his whereabouts. Bandyopadhyay had been in Saudi Arabia for work for 11 months.
His wife, Moumita, shared her anguish: "On Saturday, he mentioned a red alert in his area and bombing in a neighbouring state. The Saudi government imposed movement restrictions, and we have had no contact since. Our family—including his mother, myself, and our two sons—is fervently praying for his safe return."
Engineer Reports Ongoing Missile Strikes
Saibal Basu, an electrical engineer from Joynagar working in Doha, reported that missile fire persisted even on Monday morning. "The situation had been relatively calm since Sunday evening, but we were awakened by missile sounds at 8:05 am. There were at least four strikes near a US military base, prompting immediate government alerts to our cellphones advising us to stay indoors. The atmosphere here is terrifying," Basu recounted.
The broader context includes reports of Israel attacking Iran, claims of a US F-15 downed in Kuwait with Iran sharing video evidence, explosions in Bahrain, Dubai, and Doha, and Israel bombing Hezbollah targets in Beirut, with Gulf nations vowing self-defense. Amidst this turmoil, the plight of stranded Indians underscores the urgent need for coordinated evacuation efforts.
With inputs from Subhro Maitra in Malda.
