New Delhi/ Bengaluru, March 3 Passengers returning to India after being stranded in the conflict-affected region, whether in transit or on a trip to Dubai, described their experiences, from hearing explosions to facing financial difficulties and confusion during their stay.
Several passengers said they felt a sense of relief only when their aircraft landed on Indian soil after a long and arduous journey, and thanked the central and state governments for their arrangements.
Praveen Khandelwal, an MP from Chandni Chowk in Delhi, said his daughter, who had been stranded in Dubai for the last three days amidst the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, returned safely to India. He said she had traveled to Dubai for a business trip and was unable to return due to flight cancellations.
Tensions have escalated following a coordinated offensive launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28. The US and Israel jointly launched military strikes on Iran on Saturday. Iran responded by firing drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations in the Gulf, as well as at Dubai.
"I didn't feel any relief, not even during the flight, until I finally landed in Delhi," said Sunil Gupta, one of several passengers who returned home shaken.
Gupta, who was returning from Dubai, said the uncertainty was overwhelming.
Arvind, a resident of Noida who also returned from Dubai, said that many people were stranded after flights were cancelled.
"People had just gone there for a few days and were unable to afford the expenses. The stranded tourists were facing a serious financial burden. That is the biggest problem right now," he said.
He said that the flight he had initially booked was cancelled, forcing him to stay back for four extra days.
"During that time, we kept hearing about and seeing incidents around us. I personally saw explosions in the sky, but they (missiles) were being intercepted. Even though the missiles were intercepted, witnessing something like that creates fear," he said.
For some families, the situation was even more personal.
Kunwar Shakeel Ahmed, father of an Indian student studying in Iran, said the situation near his daughter's hostel is frightening.
"Sounds of blasts can be heard. Whatever missiles are being fired are landing very close to where they are staying. She told me that after one blast nearby, parts of the roof and the plaster of the hostel building fell off. You can imagine what the girls must be going through," Ahmed said.
Another passenger, Suhail Ahmed, returning from Muscat, said delays and uncertainty at airports worsened the situation.
"There were long waits and confusion. Families with children were struggling and many people were running short of money. In such times, authorities should ensure faster clearance and better arrangements for those trying to return," he added.
Relief was palpable among Indian passengers who arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from the UAE, ending a period of high tension fueled by the conflict in West Asia.
Upon arrival on Monday night, the passengers recounted the tense moments of a missile attack in the Gulf nation, before flying to safety.
Saurabh Shetty, who hails from Mangaluru and works for an oil company in Abu Dhabi, described the situation as "worrisome and scary".
"When I came to catch my flight on February 28, everything seemed alright. Suddenly, near the check-in area, we got an alarm and were asked to sit down. We were cautioned not to sit near the windows because of a missile threat," he told
