Punjab: Situation ‘normal’ in Dubai, Mansa man appeals to others not to panic
Punjab: Amid the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, a family from Sardulgarh in Mansa district, whose newly married son and daughter-in-law are currently in Dubai for their honeymoon, has appealed to people not to panic. Citing conversations with the couple, the family said that while flight operations are still suspended, daily operations in some parts of Dubai are continuing without any major disruptions. Speaking to The Tribune, Gurjant Singh, who runs a tailoring shop in Sardulgarh, said, “My son and daughter-in-law are permanent residents of Canada. They got married here on February 22nd and left for Dubai for their honeymoon on February 27th. They have return tickets for tomorrow. I have spoken to them several times in the last three days. They are moving around without any problems.” He further said that the family is closely monitoring updates regarding airport operations. “If Dubai airport resumes operations tomorrow, they will return on schedule,” he said. Appealing against panic, Gurjant Singh said, “Some people are spreading panic unnecessarily. From what my children are telling me, it seems the situation there is returning to normal. The situation in some other countries may be even more serious.” Varun Juneja, a resident of Fazilka, who returned from Dubai on Wednesday after spending nearly two weeks with his in-laws, echoed similar sentiments. He said, “My brother-in-law is a senior executive with a multinational hotel group in Dubai. I spoke to him today and he told me that offices have reopened and daily work has resumed in most places.”
Couple Visits Friend’s House
An academic couple from Bathinda, who were supposed to catch a return flight from Sharjah Airport on Saturday but were stranded due to the temporary suspension of operations, have now gone to the house of an acquaintance. Earlier, Neeru Garg, principal of Bathinda’s SSD Girls College, shared a video claiming she was running out of money and medicines. She had traveled to the UAE from February 23 to 28 with her husband, Professor Parveen Garg, who recently retired as vice-principal of DAV College, Bathinda. Anil Bhola, administrator of SSD Girls College, Bathinda, said, “I am in regular contact with them. They have now moved to a relative’s house in Bathinda.”
The Civil Aviation Ministry, responding to a news report published in The Tribune on Monday, “Couple stranded in Bathinda seeks help,” tweeted a request for the couple’s contact details. Furthermore, an official from the airline they were traveling on from Sharjah to Amritsar claimed the couple would be accommodated on the next available flight. Punjab’s NRI Minister, Dr. Ravjot Singh, also spoke with Neeru Garg over the phone and assured her of all possible assistance. He said the state government would appeal to the central government to arrange special flights for the stranded tourists. PCC President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has written to the Ministry of External Affairs seeking assistance.
