Bengalis stranded in Yemen return home with horror tales

"I can't describe my feelings. I am so fortunate to see my father again, to be back into his arms," said the 22-year-old after reaching Howrah station here on Friday.

Rahman is one of the 23 people from West Bengal evacuated from Yemen, currently in the midst of a civil war between forces of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and Shia Houthi rebels.

Resident of Panduah in Hooghly district, Rahman had gone to Aden in Yemen two years back working as a jewellery worker.

Spending sleepless nights without food and water, Rahman said he had lost all hopes before the Indian authorities swung into action sending warships to rescue the stranded Indians and bring them to Mumbai.

"I will not go back again. I had gone there hoping for a better future both for me and my family. But I can't take the horror anymore. I will try finding a work here," Rahman told IANS after alighting from the Mumbai-Howrah Duranto Express.

Having got back his only son safe and sound, Rafikul says he is indebted to the government.

"After talking to Safikul last Monday, I had given up all hopes of getting my son back. But all thanks to the government that he is back into my arms," said Rafikul, a daily wager.

Similar are the stories of 22 others.

"I can never forget the scenes that I witnessed there. The way bombs were exploding and bullets were flying around, I had seen such scenes only in movies," said S. Zahirul who had gone to Aden two months back to work in the jewellery sector.

Zahirul, a resident of Hooghly's Haripal, said most of the workers had gone for days without food and water

Mostly from Hooghly district, all the evacuees thanked the Indian government for giving them a new life.