MahaHelpline Steps In as 1,200 Marathi Tourists Get Stranded in Dubai, 500 Safely Return

The Maharashtra government is making continuous efforts to safely bring back Marathi tourists from the state who are stranded in Dubai due to disruptions caused by the Iran–Israel war. In this effort, the IPF MahaHelpline, a service launched to assist the Marathi diaspora and community in Dubai, has now been activated as a special helpline for Maharashtra tourists affected by travel disruptions stemming from the ongoing Iran–US conflict.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP Maharashtra state president Ravindra Chavan are in constant contact with the Indian Embassy and the IPF MahaHelpline team. Through this helpline, around 500 tourists have already been safely repatriated to India.

According to Rahul Tulpule, who is leading this initiative from Dubai, the helpline received over 1,200 requests for assistance within just one day of being activated.

The IPF MahaHelpline (+971 50 365 4357), launched with the recognition of the Maharashtra government, is operating 24 hours a day through a team of more than 20 volunteers across five cities in the UAE. The helpline is assisting stranded travelers with extending hotel stays, arranging food and medicines, providing temporary accommodation, organizing transport, and coordinating with the Indian Embassy.

A dedicated medical assistance team has also been set up to ensure travelers continue receiving necessary treatment. Through consultations with local doctors and prescriptions, the team is helping arrange essential medicines so that ongoing treatments are not disrupted.

The helpline team is maintaining close coordination with the Indian Embassy in Dubai. Regular updates are being received from the Indian Ambassador and the Consul General, and verified information is being shared with stranded passengers through professionally managed WhatsApp coordination groups.

Between March 2 and March 6, more than 500 passengers have already returned safely to India via available flights departing from various Dubai airports and from Muscat in Oman.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan remain in constant touch with the Indian Consul General in Dubai and the IPF MahaHelpline management team, closely monitoring the situation of stranded travelers in the region.

Under the leadership of transport coordinator Prasad Patil, arrangements are being made to transport passengers to alternative departure points such as Fujairah and Muscat. Meanwhile, the primary support team led by Neelam Nandedkar and Shweta Karandikar is providing special assistance to families traveling with infants, small children, and senior citizens.

At the same time, Bhushan Chaudhary and Prasad Datar are managing data operations, daily helpline functioning, and WhatsApp coordination groups to ensure smooth communication between stranded travelers and the volunteer network.

After several flights operated by IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India were cancelled due to airspace disruptions, the helpline team led by Rahul Tulpule compiled a list of over 400 affected passengers.

This list has been shared with the Indian Consulate and the concerned airlines so that these passengers can be given priority on available flights and brought back to India as soon as possible.

With the number of flights gradually increasing, the helpline team is now working closely with the Maharashtra government, the Indian Consulate in Dubai, airlines, and charter operators to ensure that as many stranded passengers as possible are able to return home in the coming days, Rahul Tulpule said.