Iran conflict: Shinde arranges flights to bring back 164 stranded in UAE; Government launches helpline

Maharashtra arranges flights for 164 stranded citizens in UAE amidst the Iran conflict and launches emergency WhatsApp helpline.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has arranged two aircraft to bring back 164 citizens of the State stranded in the United Arab Emirates amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, his office informed on Tuesday (March 3, 2026).

The State Government has also launched an emergency WhatsApp helpline for hundreds of State residents stranded in the Middle East. Mr. Shinde's office in a statement said two flights will take off from Fujairah Airport at 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and are expected to land in Mumbai in the evening.

The 164 passengers include 84 students of the Pune-based Indira School of Business Studies and residents from Thane, Ahilyanagar, and Pune, it stated. The Deputy Chief Minister has been in touch with those stranded since the West Asia conflict started on Saturday (February 27, 2026).

According to officials, several hundred people from Maharashtra are stranded in the Middle East due to airspace closure caused by the Iran war, though all are safe. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO), in a post on X, said that CM Devendra Fadnavis is personally monitoring the situation and is in constant contact with various agencies.

आखाती देशांमध्ये निर्माण झालेल्या युद्ध परिस्थितीमुळे तेथे अडकलेल्या महाराष्ट्रातील विविध नागरिकांच्या संपर्कात राज्य सरकार आहे. मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस हे स्वतः सातत्याने विविध यंत्रणांशी संपर्कात असून ते केंद्र सरकारसोबत सुद्धा सातत्याने संपर्क ठेवून आहेत. राज्याचे मंत्री…

He is also coordinating regularly with the Central Government, which is extending all possible assistance, while Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan has been tasked with coordination efforts.