Bollywood heroine 'rescues' distressed travellers stranded in UAE airport

Bollywood heroine 'rescues' distressed travellers stranded in UAE airport
Richa Chadha sought out on Saturday to help fellow Indian travellers stranded in Abu Dhabi airport after a storm struck the UAE causing massive flight delays.
2 min read
29 Mar, 2017
Richa Chadha is an avid campaigner against sexual abuse and gender discrimination [Twitter]
Bollywood actress Richa Chadha sought out on Saturday to help fellow travellers stranded in Abu Dhabi airport after a storm struck the UEA causing massive flight delays.

Chadha, who was headed for Los Angeles, found that many Indian travellers, including women, children and elderly, were not given adequate help as they waited almost 18 hours for their flights.

Three of the passengers were injured and only attended by airport staff hours later, according to Hinustan Times.

Many passengers did not have enough local currency to buy water and food, while others had used up their money within the first few hours of the delay.

Chadha was struck by their condition and the way the airline management handled the situation.

The actress took to Twitter posting a series of messages describing the conditions at the airport and urging her followers to retweet them.

“Guys plz RT the next series of tweets to help out a bunch of fellow Indians stuck in transit at Abu Dhabi Airport, terminal 1,” she tweeted.

“Many Indians stranded here at Abu Dhabi airport since morning due to a storm. No luggage, no accommodation, no visa to get out @SushmaSwaraj,” she continued, using the Twitter handle of Indian’s minister of foreign affairs, Sushma Swaraj.

“There’s senior citizens, women with infants .@EtihadAirways handing out meal vouchers n tiny snack packs. BUT nowhere to go!”

Speaking about what happened later, she said "It was a nightmare. I did my best to help out wherever I could.

"I bought bottles of water for people that didn't have local currency on my credit card. I wish it was handled better. I felt terrible for senior citizens, people with injuries and mothers traveling with infants."

The Indian actress played a major breakthrough role "Gangs of Wasseypur", which was released in 2008.

Off screen, she is an avid campaigner against sexual abuse and gender discrimination.