Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 2: Residents of Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra stranded in the Middle East following airspace closures amid the escalating Iran–Israel conflict have appealed on social media for urgent evacuation.
While uncertainty prevails over flight operations, the UAE has reportedly requested local hotels to allow stranded travellers to extend their stay, assuring that the expenses will be borne by authorities.
Mumbaikar Harshit Choradiya shared a video message from Dubai, stating that missile interceptor sounds were heard in the evening but daily life continued as usual. “Traffic and Metro services are running and people are stepping out to break their Ramzan fast. We are safe, but I urge the governments of Maharashtra and India to arrange maximum flights once airspace reopens,” he said.
Another traveller, Vrushali, posted multiple messages seeking assistance from a private airline and the Indian government. Similar appeals were made by stranded residents from Beed, Kolhapur and Dhule, along with a group of 80 students from Pune.
Actress Sonal Chauhan tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, stating she was stranded in Dubai due to flight cancellations and sought government guidance for a safe return. She later posted that she was safe and well.
Naitik Shah appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying he was stuck in Dubai with his elderly parents and urgently required assistance.
A Dahisar resident employed in Dubai said that although residents remain alert, the situation on the ground appears largely normal. “We heard loud sounds of missile interceptors at noon on Sunday, but within our gated community people are stepping out as usual,” he said, adding that prices of certain grocery items have increased due to panic buying.
At Mumbai airport, 125 flights were cancelled till 2.30 pm on Sunday. An airline official said Indian carriers have suspended flights to the Middle East and major global destinations such as London, New York, Newark, Toronto and Frankfurt due to routing constraints.
A February 28 government advisory directed Indian carriers to avoid airspace over Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar until March 2.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha airports remain shut, disrupting transit traffic. Nearly 50 per cent of passengers travelling from India to the US usually transit through these Middle Eastern hubs, which are currently non-operational.
Travellers are left with limited options, including booking expensive nonstop flights to New York or London, though seats remain scarce for bookings within 24 to 48 hours due to heightened demand.
Many passengers are opting for European or African carriers, transiting via Paris, Frankfurt or Addis Ababa to reach the US. European airlines continue to operate as they reroute flights over Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace.
Airfares have surged sharply, with one-way tickets from Mumbai to London or Frankfurt priced above Rs 1.3 lakh for Monday and Tuesday, compared to the usual Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 range.
A travel agent alleged that despite the DGCA advisory, some Indian carriers continue to sell tickets on routes requiring overflight of restricted airspace. Certain Middle Eastern carriers are also reportedly selling tickets for Monday and Tuesday even though their hubs remain closed.