All efforts underway to bring back Indians stranded in conflict zone: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday said the Centre was making continuous efforts to ensure the safe return of Indians stranded amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, describing the situation as "volatile".
Speaking to reporters at Rambhapuri Mutt in Chikkamagaluru, Joshi said he would take up the matter with the concerned authorities in New Delhi.
“The situation there (Middle East) is very difficult. It has come to my attention that Kannada people are stranded,” Joshi said.
Noting that the government was closely monitoring developments, he added, “I will go to Delhi today and talk to the concerned ministers. All efforts will be made to bring back the Indians there safely.”
Referring to past evacuation operations, the Minister said, “We have successfully brought everyone back during the war in the Modi government.”
He cautioned that conditions in the region remained unstable.
“Currently, the situation there is turbulent. Even flying a plane there is dangerous,” Joshi said.
“Our efforts are continuous to bring back the people there safely,” the Union Minister said, adding, “JD(S) MLC Bhoje Gowda, who is stranded in Dubai with his family, and all the passengers with him should be brought back safely.”
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Iran crisis: 225 flights cancelled at Mumbai, Delhi airports
New Delhi (PTI): As many as 225 international flights were cancelled at Mumbai and Delhi airports on Sunday due to operational disruptions in the wake of the US and Israel attacks on Iran and the subsequent closure of airspaces in the Gulf region.
Of the 225 flights, 125 flights were cancelled at Mumbai airport and at least 100 flights at Delhi Airport, sources say.
A source said 60 international departures and 40 arrivals have been cancelled at Delhi Airport.
"Due to the evolving political situation in the Middle East, west-bound international flights may experience disruptions or schedule changes," DIAL said in a post on X.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital.
"A total of 125 flights have been cancelled at Mumbai Airport up till 2.30 pm on Sunday. These include 67 departures and 58 arrivals," said another source.
It may be mentioned here that due to the paucity of parking space, authorities at Mumbai Airport had taken NOTAM for not accepting any flight on account of diversion at 9 pm on Saturday until 8 am on March 1 amid the developments in West Asia.
The decision was taken due to the paucity of parking space at the airport with a number of flights returning to their origin or diverting to nearby airports, a source had said.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd, the private airport operator, issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) "for not accepting any more diversions" at 9 pm, the source added.
Earlier, the Civil Aviation Ministry said 444 international flights are expected to be cancelled by domestic carriers on Sunday.
