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Recognised by the Maharashtra government, the IPF MahaHelpline (+971 50 365 4357) is being run by a network of over 20 volunteers across five UAE cities, operating round the clock
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with the team managing the helpline as well as officials at the Indian Consulate in Dubai. Image/News18
More than 1,200 tourists from Maharashtra found themselves stranded in Dubai after sudden disruptions in air travel triggered by the West Asia war. As flights were cancelled and uncertainty grew, a community-driven initiative—IPF MahaHelpline—quickly turned into a crucial support system for worried travellers far from home.
Within just a few days, the helpline has already helped over 500 tourists return safely to India, while hundreds more are being assisted with travel arrangements, accommodation, food, and medical support. The helpline, launched earlier to support the Marathi diaspora in the UAE, has now been activated as an emergency assistance channel for stranded tourists. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with the team managing the helpline as well as officials at the Indian Consulate in Dubai.
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According to Rahul Tulpule, who is leading the initiative from Dubai, the helpline received more than 1,200 requests for assistance within just 24 hours of its activation. The scale of distress calls highlighted how abruptly travel plans had been disrupted for tourists visiting the UAE.
Recognised by the Maharashtra government, the IPF MahaHelpline (+971 50 365 4357) is being run by a network of over 20 volunteers across five UAE cities, operating round the clock. Volunteers are helping stranded travellers extend hotel bookings, arrange temporary accommodation, provide food and medicines, and coordinate with authorities to ensure passengers get seats on the earliest available flights.
A separate medical support team has also been mobilised to help tourists access doctors and prescriptions so that ongoing treatments are not interrupted during the unexpected delay. The helpline team is also working closely with the Indian Embassy and Consulate in Dubai, sharing verified updates with stranded travellers through coordinated WhatsApp groups to prevent confusion and misinformation.
Between March 2 and 6, many tourists managed to return to India via flights departing from Dubai and alternate hubs such as Muscat in Oman, taking the total number of safe returns past 500.
With flight operations slowly stabilising, the helpline team is now coordinating with airlines, charter operators, and the Indian Consulate to prioritise stranded passengers. Authorities in Maharashtra are also keeping a close watch, ensuring that every possible effort is made to bring the remaining tourists home safely in the coming days.
March 08, 2026, 00:52 IST
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