Tourists stranded in parts of West Asia amid tensions

Hyderabad: Several tourists and visitors from Hyderabad are stranded in parts of the Middle East following escalating tensions in the region, which have led to flight cancellations and temporary shutdowns.When TOI reached out to a group of seven tourists stranded in Bahrain, they said the situation changed dramatically just hours before their scheduled return to Hyderabad. "It was a complete shutdown. We were supposed to leave, but everything came to a halt as we were about to collect our boarding passes. While we were waiting in the queue at the airport, a siren suddenly went off. All passengers, including children and women, had to run out of the airport in panic. It was a frightening experience. We came here for a one-week trip, but now we are stranded. We rented an apartment for the time being, but we are unable to step out as the police are restricting movement across the city," said G Soloman Raj, a stranded passenger in Bahrain.
The group said the uncertainty over flight operations and safety advisories had left them anxious and confused, with little clarity on when services would resume. "We were advised to stay indoors and avoid stepping out," one of the travellers in Bahrain said over the phone.Similarly, some residents and visitors in Dubai reported a sense of panic following the disruption of air services and heightened security measures. "Though daily life has not come to a complete standstill, there is growing concern about further escalation. We were asked to work from home, and schools were closed," said N Karthik, a resident in Dubai.