Kolhapur Residents Return From Dubai After Emergency Evacuation Amid Regional Tensions

KOLHAPUR, Maharashtra — Twenty-five residents from the Hupre area of Kolhapur who were stranded in Dubai amid escalating tensions in the Middle East returned home safely on Monday morning, prompting emotional reunions with their families.

The group arrived on one of two evacuation flights arranged to bring Indian nationals back from Gulf countries as security concerns mounted in parts of the region.

According to the travelers, the hotel where they were staying in Dubai and nearby areas came under attack during the unrest. Fearing for their safety, they traveled by road from Dubai to Abu Dhabi before boarding a flight to India.

Family members gathered to welcome them at home, with several elders seen in tears as they embraced their loved ones after days of uncertainty.

The returnees described witnessing plumes of smoke rising after aerial assaults and tense scenes at the airport as evacuations were organized. They said local authorities in Dubai provided each passenger with financial assistance of Rs 26,000 as part of emergency support measures.

Shital Barge, who was part of a group that traveled to Dubai on February 24, said the trip had initially gone as planned.

“Dubai is a very good and developed country. We had gone to see Dubai, but before coming back, we also faced this scare. It feels very good to be back in our motherland. Along with us, there was another group from Kolhapur of 22 people who could not get a flight yet,” Barge said.

Another passenger, Tukaram Raut, said returning home brought a deep sense of relief.

“Coming back, I am feeling very happy; being with family brings a lot of peace. We had gone to Dubai on the 24th; the five days there were very good… we visited and saw different locations. But when the conflict started, it was very frightening. However, with the support of both countries’ governments, we returned safely,” he said.

The travelers said they closely followed updates on the evolving situation and praised the swift coordination between Indian and United Arab Emirates authorities that facilitated their evacuation.

While they described Dubai as largely orderly and functioning during most of their stay, they said the sudden escalation underscored how quickly conditions can change and how critical timely government assistance can be in crisis situations.

Local officials said efforts are continuing to assist other Indian nationals who remain stranded in the region. (Source: IANS)