Dubai and other Middle Eastern airspaces have seen major disruptions, with reports of air defence fire in the UAE’s commercial capital following strikes by Iran, leaving many travellers in transit stranded
A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on Sunday. PIC/AFP
Dozens of residents from Maharashtra, including senior citizens and students, are stranded in Dubai due to airspace closures triggered by escalating tensions in West Asia following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel strike, news agency PTI reported, quoting officials on Sunday.
Twenty-three tourists—including 12 senior citizens—from Kalyan, Shahapur and Murbad talukas of Thane district had travelled to Dubai on February 23 and were scheduled to return on Sunday.
Shahapur Tehsildar Parmeshwar Kasule said talathis were instructed to gather details from families after reports of their situation surfaced on social media, PTI reported.
One of the stranded tourists, Ramesh Dhalpe, said he had contacted the Ministry of External Affairs seeking immediate assistance for the group’s safe return.
“With the return journey uncertain, we appeal to the Indian government for urgent financial and logistical support,” he said.
Meanwhile, 84 MBA students and four faculty members from Pune’s Indira School of Business Studies (ISBS), who were in Dubai on a five-day study tour, were also stranded, PTI reported. While 40 students were scheduled to return on Saturday and the remaining 44 on Sunday, flights were cancelled due to the airspace closure.
All students and staff from Pune institute secure in Bur Dubai
“All students and staff are safe and have been shifted to a hotel in Bur Dubai,” ISBS Dean Janardhan Pawar said.
Chairperson Tarita Shankar added, “We are in constant touch with the students and coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation. They will be brought back at the earliest.”
Rahul Pathak, a faculty member accompanying the students, said the situation outside the hotel was normal.
“The parents have connected with their wards. The hotel stay is comfortable and food is available. All shops around are open,” he said.
The district administration confirmed that besides the ISBS group, another 10 residents from Pune are stranded in Dubai.
“We have made contact with all of them, and they are safe,” a statement said.
Dubai and other Middle Eastern airspaces have seen major disruptions, with reports of air defence fire in the UAE’s commercial capital following the strikes, leaving many travellers in transit stranded.
(With PTI inputs)
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