As tensions rise between Iran, Israel, and the US, Gulf nations face repercussions, leaving many Maharashtra residents stranded in Dubai. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has taken swift action to ensure the safety and repatriation of these citizens. Residents from various parts of Maharashtra, including Thane, Murbad, Pune, and Ahilyanagar, sought assistance from the Deputy CM’s office due to conflict-like conditions in Dubai.
Among those in need are 84 students from the Indira School of Business Studies in Pune, currently stuck in Dubai. Deputy CM Shinde directly communicated with these students through representatives of the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal in Dubai, offering reassurance and support. He assured the stranded individuals that the state government, in collaboration with the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal, is addressing their immediate needs for food and shelter in Dubai.
Shinde has engaged with stranded groups via video calls to assess their safety and well-being, emphasizing the state’s cooperation with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation for their safe return. The Maharashtra government, under Shinde’s leadership, is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant authorities to facilitate the citizens’ safe repatriation.
Officials have instructed local authorities to compile lists of residents in the Gulf, including specific groups like the MBA students from Pune’s Indira School of Business and senior citizens from Pimpri-Chinchwad. Notable figures, such as Jalna MP Kalyan Kale, are confirmed safe but stranded in Dubai, receiving high-level attention. The state government is bridging communication between families in Maharashtra and Indian diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, advocating for special evacuation flights once airspace security is ensured.
A formal advisory urges Maharashtrians abroad to stay calm, avoid unnecessary travel, and rely on official information to prevent scams. While the UAE government supports stranded transit passengers with hotel stays, the Maharashtra government collaborates with travel agencies like Girikand Travels to ensure independent tourist groups have essential support in Dubai.
