<p>The plans put in place by the Indian embassy in war-torn Yemen were not glitch-free, feels Ravi Kumar, a Bengaluru-based businessman said. <br /><br /></p>.<p>He spoke to Deccan Herald on the challenges he faced in Yemen from where he and his family was rescued. There were also procedural delays that added to the agony of Indians stranded there, Kumar said. <br /><br />But for the procedural delays and the Indian embassy’s tedious procedures, he would have returned from Yemen long ago, Kumar said. <br /><br />It was after a long wait that Kumar, who was to return back on March 25, came home. <br />“Soon after the situation worsened, other embassies worked out a quick plan of action. People from Pakistan, Russia, Philippines, Somalia were evacuated by Sunday. Most of them did not even have an embassy based in Yemen. However, they ensured immediate help to their citizens,” Kumar said. <br /><br />“Each time, they would ask us to mail the passport details. The first time, we had to go and hand over a photocopy of the passport along with photographs in person to the embassy office that was far from our residences. It would have been convenient if all this work was done digitally,” he said. Besides, Indians who were waiting to return back had to partake of the food leftover by a group of pilgrims who were at the airport. <br /><br />“They had neither made arrangements for food or water. The airport is shut down and no facilities were available. There is a need to have experienced people in the embassy,” he suggested. <br /><br />“Living there itself was a challenge,” he said, adding that during the day, there were drone attacks. During nights, it was worse. He said that it would become nearly impossible to rescue people still stranded if war starts on the ground. <br /><br />“My only request to the government is to bring back fellow Indians at the earliest,” he said. <br /><br />Kumar had to share a small room with 12 others as that was the only place where they could feel safe. “Most of us who were not used to war sounds spent sleepless nights. There were people who slept in kitchens as there were walls all around,” he recalled. <br />Another Bengaluru resident Madan Mohan Reddy too has reached home safe. Quoting Embassy sources, Kumar said that there were still 3,000 Indians awaiting help. <br /><br />Kumar who was on an assignment had a trip scheduled from March 13 to 25. He was in for a shock when he was told that he would have to stay back as the runway was damaged following an attack and that the airport would remain closed on March 26. On April 1, there was a sense of relief as he received a call that they would be evacuated. But the happiness did not last long. At 11 pm, on reaching the airport, he was told that they flights were cancelled. <br /><br />Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj spoke to Kumar in the afternoon on Saturday and said that 325 Indians were to be evacuated that day and 800 more were to board flights on Sunday. <br /><br /></p>
<p>The plans put in place by the Indian embassy in war-torn Yemen were not glitch-free, feels Ravi Kumar, a Bengaluru-based businessman said. <br /><br /></p>.<p>He spoke to Deccan Herald on the challenges he faced in Yemen from where he and his family was rescued. There were also procedural delays that added to the agony of Indians stranded there, Kumar said. <br /><br />But for the procedural delays and the Indian embassy’s tedious procedures, he would have returned from Yemen long ago, Kumar said. <br /><br />It was after a long wait that Kumar, who was to return back on March 25, came home. <br />“Soon after the situation worsened, other embassies worked out a quick plan of action. People from Pakistan, Russia, Philippines, Somalia were evacuated by Sunday. Most of them did not even have an embassy based in Yemen. However, they ensured immediate help to their citizens,” Kumar said. <br /><br />“Each time, they would ask us to mail the passport details. The first time, we had to go and hand over a photocopy of the passport along with photographs in person to the embassy office that was far from our residences. It would have been convenient if all this work was done digitally,” he said. Besides, Indians who were waiting to return back had to partake of the food leftover by a group of pilgrims who were at the airport. <br /><br />“They had neither made arrangements for food or water. The airport is shut down and no facilities were available. There is a need to have experienced people in the embassy,” he suggested. <br /><br />“Living there itself was a challenge,” he said, adding that during the day, there were drone attacks. During nights, it was worse. He said that it would become nearly impossible to rescue people still stranded if war starts on the ground. <br /><br />“My only request to the government is to bring back fellow Indians at the earliest,” he said. <br /><br />Kumar had to share a small room with 12 others as that was the only place where they could feel safe. “Most of us who were not used to war sounds spent sleepless nights. There were people who slept in kitchens as there were walls all around,” he recalled. <br />Another Bengaluru resident Madan Mohan Reddy too has reached home safe. Quoting Embassy sources, Kumar said that there were still 3,000 Indians awaiting help. <br /><br />Kumar who was on an assignment had a trip scheduled from March 13 to 25. He was in for a shock when he was told that he would have to stay back as the runway was damaged following an attack and that the airport would remain closed on March 26. On April 1, there was a sense of relief as he received a call that they would be evacuated. But the happiness did not last long. At 11 pm, on reaching the airport, he was told that they flights were cancelled. <br /><br />Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj spoke to Kumar in the afternoon on Saturday and said that 325 Indians were to be evacuated that day and 800 more were to board flights on Sunday. <br /><br /></p>
