Karwar returnee recounts Afghan ordeal

Karwar: A resident of Sadashivagad in Karwar, who went to Kabul in search of new work life two years ago, was happy to be back home given the anarchy and the subsequent unrest at Afghanistan.

Rajesh Paduwalkar reached Karwar from Goa airport around 11am on Tuesday. He was tired and emotional as he recalled his last days in the war-torn country. “I stepped in Kabul airport two years ago hoping to open a new chapter in my life. But over the last seven days, what I experienced was hellish. I’m one of the lucky persons to have returned to India in a short time,” said Rajesh.

He worked at EcoLog, an European company which was into catering services to the US army units based in Kabul. “Everything was right till August 14, when the Taliban was about to capture Kabul city. I was working at the army base then. Around 4pm the next day, army sirens went off, and we were asked to enter bunkers fearing air attack. I rushed to a bunker which was already overcrowded. I stayed there more than six hours without sitting,” he said, adding that their company asked them to pack bags the same day.

“The US army base is adjacent to Kabul airport. We were expecting to leave Kabul on August 15 evening. But what unfolded was out of the blue — over five thousand Afghans, including women and children, rushed to the airport and occupied the runway. The plane which was to ferry us to India did not land, and crowd swelled. For two days, we were stranded in the airport with no plane movement. I thought it was the end,” he said.

“However on August 17, the US army arranged a plane, and we left for Qatar. Even there, horror sights greeted us — over 20,000 Afghans were seen crammed in temporary shelters. Forget getting food on time, we even waited in a long queue to attend nature’s call. To avoid this, we stopped drinking water, while pieces of bread made for our meal. Officials of the Indian embassy took care of us in person.”

On Monday night, he reached Karwar via the Delhi-Goa route. “The dreams of the Afghans have shattered, and I’m sorry for them,” he signed off.