Chennai, March 3 Whether a transit passenger or a family enjoying a holiday in Dubai, the armed conflict in the Middle East threw a wrench into their plans to return home. Passengers were stranded there amid explosions before resuming their long journey back.
Those who arrived from the conflict-affected region recalled hearing explosions and seeing deserted roads during their brief stay in Dubai, following the US-Israel attack on Iran, which in turn targeted UAE.
Several passengers expressed relief over their safe return on Tuesday and thanked the central and state governments for their arrangements.
Shubha, a passenger from New York, who was scheduled to return to Chennai on Sunday, described how the roads were deserted after the conflict and added that the situation in Dubai was "scary."
"Coming back here feels like a freedom. I was in Dubai on Saturday, and around 1 pm, the airline authorities informed us that the Dubai airspace had been closed," she told reporters at the airport.
"Emirates Airlines and the Dubai airport took good care of us and immediately moved us to hotels. We were staying there, but then we were informed that some debris or shrapnel had fallen at the Dubai airport, causing damage," she recalled.
"We were able to hear explosions every few hours, which was very unsettling. We are very happy to be back home, safe and sound," she said.
Karthik, a Chennai resident who had traveled to Dubai with his family, said, "We had planned a tour last Tuesday (February 24). We were scheduled to return on Saturday, but we received news that the airspace had been closed."
He said that the closure of the airspace might cause delays in flight operations, but he never expected the flights to be cancelled. "We returned to the hotel and stayed there. We could hear the sound of missiles. Thankfully, we were able to get tickets for our journey today and returned to Chennai," he said.
Another passenger, Syed Ali, said, "Upon hearing the news, several children started crying due to the situation at the Dubai airport. However, the hotel authorities helped us a lot and accommodated us."
"Nearly 20,000 people were seen standing in long queues and were sent to various hotels. We should thank both the central and state governments for taking steps for our safe return," Ali, who hails from Nagoor in Tamil Nadu, said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had earlier instructed the Non-Resident Tamils Welfare and Rehabilitation Department to inquire about the status of Tamils living in the Gulf countries. The government also established a 24-hour control room at the Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to provide assistance to the passengers.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and PMK Leader Anbumani Ramadoss, both allies of the ruling BJP at the Centre, had urged the Union government to take appropriate steps for the safety of Tamils living in the West Asian countries.