A total of 164 tourists from Maharashtra who were stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after US Israel attacked Iran have safely returned home, reported the PTI.
Two special flights arranged by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde landed in Mumbai on Tuesday night. One aircraft carried 76 passengers, while the other brought back 88.
Those who returned included 84 students from the Pune-based Indira School of Business Studies, along with residents from Thane, Ahilyanagar and Pune.
According to a Shiv Sena functionary, the flights departed from Fujairah Airport in the UAE at 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm local time before arriving in Mumbai later that evening.
The special flights were organised under the direction of Shinde, who leads the Shiv Sena.
In a statement shared on Tuesday, his office confirmed that arrangements had been made to ensure the safe return of Maharashtra residents affected by the regional tensions.
Deeply satisfying to provide relief
In a post on X, Shinde said the Shiv Sena had succeeded in bringing back several stranded residents from Dubai. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their leadership during the crisis.
Shinde added that it was deeply satisfying to provide relief to citizens who had been under considerable stress due to the situation in West Asia.
Maharashtra launches helpline for those stranded
The Maharashtra government has introduced an emergency WhatsApp helpline for state residents stranded in the Middle East due to ongoing conflict in the region, reported the PTI.
Officials said several hundred people from Maharashtra are currently unable to return home because of widespread airspace closures. However, all are reported to be safe.
The Chief Minister’s Office said that Devendra Fadnavis is personally overseeing developments and remains in constant contact with various agencies.
He is also coordinating closely with the Central government, which is extending assistance. State minister Girish Mahajan has been assigned to manage coordination efforts.
In collaboration with Indian People`s Forum in Dubai, the state government has issued a WhatsApp helpline number: +971 50 365 4357. Stranded residents requiring help have been asked to get in touch through the number.
Officials added that data is being collected from districts across Maharashtra to assess the total number of affected citizens.
(with PTI inputs)
