Cuttack: A 32-year-old IT professional from Cuttack has been stranded in Doha after his flight to Romania was forced to return mid-air due to escalating conflict in the region.Prateek Dev Das, a resident of Tinikonia Bazar in Cuttack, had begun his journey from Bengaluru to Romania on Feb 28 on an official Deloitte assignment. After a scheduled layover of three-and-a-half hours in Doha, his connecting flight took off but soon turned back to Qatar, citing security concerns triggered by the ongoing war.Speaking to TOI, Prateek said he was stuck at the airport for nearly 24 hours before the airline shifted stranded passengers to a hotel. “I stayed at the airport for 24 hours and was later moved to a hotel about 18 km away. There is serious anxiety among passengers about the situation,” he said.Prateek added that his luggage remains with the airline, forcing him to manage without essential belongings, including clothes. “We don’t know how many days we would be here. I contacted the Indian embassy helpline, and they said they are looking into the matter,” he said.Claiming that nearly 40,000 travellers are stranded at Qatar airport due to flight disruptions, he said uncertainty continues to prevail among passengers.Back home, Prateek’s father, Dev Kumar Das — a retired private employee — expressed deep concern over his son’s health. “We are very scared. He has multiple health issues, especially severe allergies. How he is managing in such tense circumstances is a big worry for us. We request the govts of Odisha and India to ensure his safe and early return,” he said.The family has urged the Centre and the ministry of external affairs to intervene urgently and facilitate the safe return of stranded Indians.
