Ahmedabad: The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel has thrown air travel across the Middle East into disarray, leaving more than 3,000 Gujarati travellers stranded in various countries across the region. Indian airlines have suspended several international flights until March 28, deepening the uncertainty for thousands of passengers caught in the crisis.
According to reports, a large number of Gujaratis who had travelled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for vacation remain stuck in those cities, while an estimated 700 to 800 pilgrims who had gone for Umrah during the holy month of Ramzan are now stranded at airports and in the cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Travel operators have confirmed that all travellers are currently safe and are in contact with the Indian Embassy as they await arrangements to return home.
Closer to home, around 55 passengers from Ahmedabad were forced to return to their hotels after their flights were cancelled, and are now grappling with financial strain and uncertainty over their return.
Jamalpur-Khadia MLA Imran Khedawala took to social media to draw attention to the plight of residents from his constituency and other parts of Ahmedabad who are currently stuck at airports in Saudi Arabia. He appealed to the Indian government and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for immediate intervention, stating that the safety of every Indian citizen must remain the country’s top priority. Families of the stranded travellers, he noted, are gripped with anxiety over the situation.
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Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil also expressed serious concern over the safety of Gujaratis stranded across Gulf nations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Kuwait, citing drone and missile attacks in the region as the primary cause of the disruptions. He referred specifically to the case of Priteshbhai Patel and Heenaben Patel’s family from Nadiad, adding that several travellers who were transiting through Kuwait en route to the United States have also been left stranded. Videos of helpless Umrah pilgrims at Saudi Arabian airports have also surfaced, he said.
Gohil criticised both the state and central governments sharply, pointing out that neither the Prime Minister nor the Chief Minister had issued a single statement on the safety of Gujaratis abroad despite the ongoing attacks in Gulf countries. He said he had written emails to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister demanding urgent action. The MP specifically called on the government to arrange free repatriation flights for Gujaratis wishing to return home, and urged the Indian Embassy to ensure adequate accommodation and meals for those who cannot be brought back immediately.
Gohil also highlighted the longstanding trade ties between Gujarat and the Gulf region, noting that thousands of small vessels from Kutch, Salaya, Porbandar, and Jamnagar are engaged in the transport of goods to Gulf nations. The ongoing conflict, he warned, is severely disrupting this trade, and he urged the Gujarat government to extend necessary support to the traders affected by the crisis. He pressed for proactive measures to protect both the lives of Gujarati citizens and their livelihoods.