NRIs from Odisha at home but stranded

Bhubaneswar: Though many non-resident Indians (NRIs) from West Asia are lining up to return to India, a few Odia women who are in Odisha on a vacation want to return, as per their schedule, to their second home Dubai, where they have built a life for themselves and their families.

Many had planned to come to Odisha during their children’s spring break but had to prepone their trip because of the air strikes. Chanchal Patra said as flights, though less in number, were operating, she decided to come to Bhubaneswar with her children who had holidays. She, however, wants to go back when the holidays are over by March 30.

An Odia woman (who doesn’t want to be named) has been in Bhubaneswar since Feb 26, two days before the air strikes started, and is looking for ways to return to Dubai. “I had initially planned to stay until March 5 and would have gone back with my mother,” she said.

She could not go back due to the air strikes but says will decide the date sooner than later. "I want to go back as I have my own house in Dubai,” said the golden visa holder that ensures a 10-year residency in the UAE.

Another woman, who had to fly to Kolkata before coming to Balasore, said her Emirate flight was full. After an earlier flight got cancelled, she had to book fresh tickets to come to Odisha, she added.

“Initially when the air strikes started, we were scared. But the UAE govt allayed all our fears by intercepting most missiles. Offices are functioning as usual and people are going to work,” she said.

The women said the UAE govt alerts them during missile strikes, and most of them are being intercepted, easing the tense atmosphere. They added that they even celebrated Holi and International Women’s Day in Dubai this year.

Suranjana Tripathy, who arrived two days back in Jajpur for her brother’s wedding, said her parents back in Odisha were very worried about them. “We used to speak to them over video calls to calm them,” said Tripathy. “Now what worries us is the turmoil will hit the economy and everything will become costlier,” she added.