Corporate reward trip turns into long wait for return: Pune tourists among 375-member group stuck in Dubai

While tour organisers have provided shelter and food, the tourists' primary concern is the uncertainty about their return to India due to airspace closures and flight cancellations.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Mar 3, 2026 02:15 PM IST

The tourists from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad part of the corporate tour to Dubai (Special arrangement).

As the conflict between the United States-Israel alliance and Iran escalates into a regional war, a high-profile corporate reward tour has turned into a nightmare for residents of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. At least 40 tourists from the region are part of a 375-member Indian contingent currently stranded in Dubai, desperate for a government-led evacuation.

The group, comprised of business partners of Care Health Insurance from across India, including Jalgaon and Nagpur, landed in the UAE on February 26 for a recognition event and sightseeing. While earlier batches on February 19 and 22 returned safely, this third group was caught in the crossfire when hostilities intensified on February 28, leading to the immediate closure of Emirati airspace.

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‘Missiles over hotel’

“Currently, everything is fine here. We were quite startled when a series of missiles flew over our hotel two days ago. We are hopeful that there will be no further attacks on Dubai,” Narendra Bansode, a Congress leader from Pimpri-Chinchwad, part of the contingent in Dubai, told The Indian Express over the phone.

”We are all part of the reward recognition and sightseeing party…The tour is for qualified business partners, many of whom have come with their families from Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Jalgaon, Nagpur and other parts of the country,” said Bansode.

After their flights were cancelled, the touring party was accommodated in a five-star hotel in Dubai, occupying more than 180 rooms.

“We are all safe. There are no problems in Dubai city. Most of the strikes from Iran have occurred in Abu Dhabi, with only a few affecting Dubai. Malls and markets are open, and while there is no overcrowding, some tourists are still venturing out,” he said.

Sandeep Suryavanshi, zonal head of Care Health Insurance, said, “Everyone is safe. Our company has arranged accommodations and meals for all the tourists. Two days ago, there was panic among our guests following a drone attack on nearby hotels. The airport, which is also close by, was shut down after the attack.”

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Suryavanshi said that they held their award night two days ago. “We did counselling and tried calm down our touring members. Some tourists were scared due to drone attacks from Iran on nearby places,” he added.

Families in Pune anxious

Kiran Landge, who lives in Bhosari, said, ”I am alone, but some of the touring members are with their families. Back home, my family is worried. They are tense and are calling repeatedly. We all want to return home as early as possible. We have urged the Centre to intervene and arrange our return. There are several senior citizens and even kids. We are worried about their safety.”

Landge added that though there were initial attacks on nearby areas, there have been none for the last two days, giving them some relief.

Some members of the touring party have released videos, urging the government to ensure their safe return.
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Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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