Escalating crisis strands Gujaratis across Gulf

Vadodara/Ahmedabad: Gujaratis in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar found themselves stranded as tensions escalated in the Iran-US-Israel conflict, with many describing a growing sense of unease — particularly in Dubai. At least 278 travellers from Vadodara have sought assistance."It feels like a self-declared curfew," said Shailesh Amin, a Vadodara-based advocate currently in Dubai with his family. "There are no official restrictions. Malls and shops are open, but only those who really need to are venturing outside."
Amin, who shifted from a hotel to his niece's apartment in Silicon Oasis, said anxiety levels remain high, with nearly 90% of residents working from home. Schools have moved classes online until Wednesday, and many companies have adopted remote operations.Supermarkets witnessed heavy rush on Sunday as residents engaged in precautionary buying. "There was a huge rush at Lulu and other superstores. Some families have even prepared emergency bags," said Siddharth Saiyan, a Vadodara resident who has been living in Dubai for the past 18 months. Siddharth Saiyan, a Vadodara resident said he witnessed aerial interceptions on Saturday evening. "I was attending a birthday party on a yacht in the Marina area when we saw three drones being intercepted mid-air. Debris was seen falling," he said. Only about half of the 100 invitees attended the event due to the tense atmosphere.Residents reported hearing blasts over the past two days and minor damage such as shattered window panes in parts of the city. Essential services continued without disruption, and no formal curbs were announced, though public spaces were noticeably less crowded.In another case, Vadodara district panchayat member Kamlesh Patel, scheduled to return from Atlanta via Abu Dhabi, is currently stranded at a hotel in Istanbul.Flight disruptions added to the anxiety. On Saturday, Gita Patel, wife of former Anand councillor Mukundrai Patel, and Umreth resident Jayraj Shelat, grandson of former MLA Subhash Shelat, were travelling from Ahmedabad to Kuwait en route to the US when their aircraft returned shortly after take-off. Passengers were given hotel accommodation.Seven members of the Trivedi family from Vallabh Vidyanagar were also stranded at Athens airport due to multiple cancellations.A helpline set up for Vadodara residents in the affected regions received 113 calls, documenting 278 travellers, said Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi.Outbound travel remains uncertain. Devnandan Somani, a Gujarat-based businessman on a short holiday, said, "Where I'm staying, everything is normal. Outlets are open and there is no panic locally. However, with the airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi shut, I am figuring out a way to book a return flight. I am exploring the option of a return flight from Muscat to Delhi and am considering going to Muscat by road and then flying out, depending on availability."Deepak Desai, a Surat-based professional in Dubai since March 18 for leisure, said, "We are taking a wait-and-watch approach. We are keeping our return plans on hold for now. As this is a leisure trip, we can afford to wait for about 10 days before taking a call."Travel agents said departures are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with return segments facing greater uncertainty due to airspace restrictions. "The intervention of the UAE govt to provide free accommodation to stranded tourists is a welcome move that eases pressure on travellers and ensures their safety," said Manish Sharma, member, Travel Agents' Federation of India (TAFI) Gujarat chapter.Akbar Rana of Sanjar Travels, Ahmedabad, said many affected Gujaratis are Umrah pilgrims on multi-week trips. He estimated that 2,800–3,000 people from Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda and Rajkot are currently in the region, with stays expected to end around March 20. His agency alone has 90 travellers there.Haritha Chandran, an Amdavadi working as an environmental consultant in Dubai, said, "We live in Karama, Dubai. We didn't see anything unusual in our neighbourhood, but on Sunday we heard loud noises from the missile interceptions. We didn't step outside after that, just for safety. My husband and I are both working remotely today, and our son has remote learning as well."A chartered accountant living in Dubai said he last heard a loud thud around 9am Monday local time. "Things are normal. The Indian embassy issued an advisory, and the UAE govt is taking good care of all. I heard it is also bearing the cost of hotel stays for stranded passengers," he said. He added that schools have shifted online, banks have staff working on-site and food and grocery deliveries continue. "We are staying away from balconies as there is a risk of debris falling from intercepted missiles and drones."