As the Syrian conflict reached a critical juncture with rebels entering Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad fleeing the capital, the Indian government swiftly initiated evacuation efforts to ensure the safety of its nationals. Among the 75 Indians evacuated, Ravi Bhushan, a resident of Ghaziabad, was the first to return home, bringing with him harrowing tales of the turmoil he witnessed.
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In a swift operation, India evacuated 75 nationals from Syria after the power shift. Coordinated by embassies in Damascus & Beirut. Evacuee Ravi Bhushan shares his experience at Delhi airport. More evacuees to return soon.@MEAIndia @eoidamascus @IndiaInLebanon @tapasjournalist pic.twitter.com/gVxYo4tcM8
— DD NEWS JAMMU | डीडी न्यूज़ जम्मू (@ddnews_jammu) December 12, 2024
Bhushan had traveled to Syria for a business meeting, arriving during a period of relative calm. However, the situation deteriorated rapidly. “I was there for some business reasons. That time the situation was quite okay. Even our customer contacted the Indian embassy and said that things are okay there. But after 2-3 days, suddenly the things changed. So we were not expecting these kind of things,” he recounted.
Describing the chaos that ensued, Bhushan said, “At present, the situation in Syria is worst. There is widespread panic. People are firing in the open road, bombarding, looting the banks. They damaged the airport completely. They are damaging all the vehicles which are parked in the hotels and everywhere. So the situation is not good there. I would say that in coming few days, situation is going to be worse there.”
Amidst this turmoil, the Indian embassy’s proactive measures provided a lifeline. “India has started a rescue operation and we are the first team who rescued from Syria. The best part is that they contacted each and everyone. They were even motivating them and asking them if they were okay. The Syrian embassy was updating us through messages every hour about when and what they are going to do with regards to rescue operation. If somebody faced any problem regarding food or anything, they arranged it. We are very much thankful to Indian government and Indian embassy at Lebanon and Syria both places,” Bhushan expressed with gratitude.
He also observed the plight of foreign nationals from other countries, noting, “We saw how people from other countries were suffering. We saw small children and women, how they were made to sit outside for over 10-12 hours in the 4-5 degree temperature. It was really horrible. But because of Indian government, we did not face any such kind of issue.”
The evacuation operation successfully brought back all 75 Indian nationals, including 44 ‘Zaireen’ from Jammu and Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. They reached Beirut safely, as confirmed by a statement from the Indian embassy in Lebanon.
The situation in Syria remains volatile, with the recent overthrow of President Assad’s regime leading to widespread instability. Rebel forces have taken control of key cities, and reports indicate looting and chaos in the aftermath. The Indian government’s prompt response in evacuating its citizens underscores its commitment to their safety during international crises.
