28 Omanis return home after being stuck at Indian airport

Muscat: Twenty-eight Omanis who were stuck in Chennai International Airport in India returned home on Monday afternoon as they did not have the right visas.

The Indian authorities refused to allow the Omanis entry into the country because they were on tourist visas while being in India for medical reasons.

“The Indian Embassy in Muscat did not notify us that we have to obtain medical visas.” said Mohammad Al Wahaibi, one of those who was stuck in India.

Al Wahaibi said that they were ill-treated by the employees at the Chennai airport.

He added that the airport authorities kept them in two small cold rooms without giving them food or water.

“We have more than three children, who froze, and spent their day without food.”, explained Al Wahaibi.

Al Wahaibi pointed out that Oman Air, which they were flying on, provided them with snacks and water, without providing them blankets, as it was cold inside the airport.

The Omanis reserved air tickets to Muscat after they were trapped inside the airport for more than 14 hours.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that it had completed the necessary procedures with the Indian authorities to ensure the safe return of the Omanis.

The Ministry urged all the nationals to obtain medical visas in case they were going for medical treatment to India.

Five Omanis aged over 40 have been apprehended since August over 40 year-old, have been caught since last August for trying to marry minors in India. However, they have all managed to return home.

They fell into the traps of marriage brokers in India.