Eight Indians Including Two Families With Young Children Evacuated from Kuwait to London Via Riyadh

An Indian student has recounted a harrowing escape from a conflict-hit Gulf region, describing moments of intense fear as missile and drone activity escalated. Deepak Gaikwad, an LLM student, safely reached London along with seven others after a coordinated evacuation effort amid rising tensions linked to the Iran-US-Israel conflict.

Gaikwad said the experience was overwhelming, with continuous sirens and visible missile activity creating panic. “I saw the sky light up with missiles, and for a moment, the fear was paralysing,” he said, recalling how the situation rapidly deteriorated in Kuwait City. The group, which included two families with young children, had to urgently arrange an exit as security conditions worsened.

The evacuation was facilitated by a Nagpur-based social organisation called “The Platform", which coordinated logistics across borders. The group travelled via Riyadh before eventually reaching London. Among those rescued were Swati and Pranay Wankhede with their four-year-old child and professionals Sharat Pannicker and Anupa Kunjappy, who were stranded with their infant daughter.

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The operation involved arranging food, shelter, and transport under challenging circumstances, with support from community groups such as Maharashtra Mandal Kuwait. The successful evacuation highlights the role of coordinated civilian efforts during crises, as well as the risks faced by Indian nationals caught in conflict zones abroad.

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