A pilgrimage to Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq has turned into a hellish ordeal for 51 Indians who are allegedly stuck there since March 4. The tourists, 30 of whom are from Mumbai, alleged that Air India cancelled their flight back to India without prior information and has failed to provide them an alternative to return home. Many of them are senior citizens and women who are now left with limited money. The passengers also held a protest in front of the airline's office in Iraq but haven't received any concrete response yet.

Shoeb Ismail Shaikh, a 30-year-old businessman, along with 50 others, flew to Iraq on February 21 to visit the holy city. But on the day of return — March 4 — when they reached the Al Najaf International Airport, they were informed that their flight AI902 had been cancelled.