Pune Citizens Stranded in Dubai and Doha Amid West Asia Conflict; MPs Supriya Sule, Amol Kolhe Seek Urgent MEA Intervention
PUNE: Several residents of Pune and the Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC) area are currently stranded at international airports in Dubai and Doha following airspace closures and disruptions triggered by the escalating US-Iran conflict in West Asia.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MPs Supriya Sule and Dr. Amol Kolhe have reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), urging Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to ensure the safety and swift repatriation of the affected citizens.
Crisis at Doha and Dubai Airports Shirur MP Dr. Amol Kolhe highlighted a critical situation at Doha Airport, noting that passengers, including Nikhil Patrike, Santosh Wankhede, and Mahendra Potkule—were reportedly moved outside the terminal after it was vacated.
“Several Indian citizens from Pune and PCMC are stranded at Doha Airport due to the recent US–Iran situation. Passengers are left outside without clarity on accommodation or onward travel,” Kolhe stated, calling for urgent intervention to provide temporary shelter and flight arrangements.
Simultaneously, Baramati MP Supriya Sule flagged the names of multiple Pune residents stranded in Dubai. Among those requiring urgent assistance are Abhishek Kalantri, Namrata Kalantri, Miraya Kalantri, and a group of eleven others including Aarya Anil Jadhav, Chetan Devidas Sohani, and Siddheshwar Dhanraj Jadhav. Sule has requested the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the MEA to facilitate their safe return.
Students Among Those Caught in Turmoil The disruption has also impacted a large educational contingent from Pune. Approximately 80 MBA students and four staff members from the Indira School of Business Studies (ISBS) are currently stuck in Dubai. The group was on an international study visit when the conflict led to sudden airspace closures.
Tarita Shankar, Chairperson of the Indira Group of Institutes, assured that all students and staff are safe. “We are in constant touch with them and are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to bring them back at the earliest,” she said.
Regional Impact The conflict has caused a ripple effect across major transit hubs in the Middle East, leaving thousands of Indian travelers in limbo. As families in Pune grow increasingly concerned, local representatives continue to press the Indian government for a dedicated evacuation plan or alternative travel routes to bring their constituents home safely.
