Amidst the fierce war between Israel, US and Iran in the Middle East, the video of an Indian youth stranded in Abu Dhabi, UAE is becoming increasingly viral on social media. The scene described by cabin crew member Ashu Arora, who was going to Bengaluru, is heart-wrenching. After watching the video, people are continuously tagging the Ministry of External Affairs so that the return of the stranded Indians can be ensured.
‘Waiting for a few hours turned into a nightmare’
Ashu told that he was posted as a cabin crew member on a flight to Bengaluru. They had a short layover in Abu Dhabi, but who knew that these few hours would turn into a never-ending nightmare. “As soon as the war started in the Middle East, suddenly all the flights were cancelled, and I was stuck there,” he said.
The scene that scared them
He said, “People say that news channels blow things out of proportion, but believe me, what I am seeing with my own eyes is even scarier. I am on the streets right now, and there is a strange chaos. People are running for essentials.” He added, “The scariest moment is when you see the missiles flying right above your head. Every moment brings a new fear.”
Will I be able to go back home?
Ashu said, “What is happening between Iran and Israel has changed everything here. After the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, there are reports of retaliatory attacks, and the atmosphere is of complete chaos. Now he fears that if this conflict turns into a full-scale war, he will never be able to return safely to his family.” He said, “As cabin crew, we are trained for the challenges of the sky, but seeing such an orgy of death on the ground makes us feel helpless. I am safe, but my heart is heavy. I just pray that everything calms down soon and we can fly again.”
Why is there fire in the Middle East?
Since the Israeli and American attacks on Iran on February 28, the entire Middle East is sitting on a powder keg, and concerns of Indians stranded there are rising. After the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Iran’s actions have spread panic in the Gulf countries. UAE, where many Indians are stranded, is also in the grip of this tension.