President Bashar al-Assad’s 14-year-old regime was brought to an end last week, with Syrian rebels celebrating a victory that seemed unimaginable just months ago. However, amid the celebrations, a deeper crisis unfolded for those caught in the crossfire of this takeover.

Among the many trapped in war-torn Syria was an Indian national and businessman Ravi Bhushan, who along with 74 others, was rescued by the Indian embassy and boarded the first flight back home, according to ANI.

“At present, the situation in Syria is worst. There is widespread panic…I would say that in the coming few days, situation is going to be worse there,” said Bhushan reflecting on his harrowing ordeal in Damascus.

Here’s an in-depth look at his experience during Syria’s turmoil and the extraordinary efforts that brought him to safety.

Ravi Bhushan, a businessman from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, travelled to Syria for a work-related meeting, unaware of the chaos that would soon engulf the country. Initially, the situation in Damascus appeared stable, allowing him to proceed with his plans.

“I was there for some business reasons. That time the situation was quite okay. Even our customer contacted the Indian embassy and said that things are okay there. But after 2-3 days, suddenly the things changed. So we were not expecting these kind of things,” Bhushan told ANI.

On Sunday, the rebel group
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, seized control of Damascus after capturing key cities like Idlib and Aleppo.

As rebels advanced towards Damascus, the calm quickly gave way to turmoil. Panic swept the streets as residents rushed to stockpile essentials and withdraw money. Rania, a local woman, described the chaos: “The situation was not like this when I left my house this morning… suddenly everyone was scared,” she told AFP.

The Syrian rebels then overthrew the government led by President Bashar al-Assad, ending his decades-long rule. Reports suggest that Assad has fled to Russia, where he has been granted asylum.

Also read:
Poor morale, reliance on foreign allies: The collapse of Assad’s army in Syria explained

Recounting the aftermath of the takeover, Bhushan described scenes of widespread anarchy.

“People are firing in the open road, bombarding, looting the banks. They damaged the airport completely. They are damaging all the vehicles which are parked in the hotels and everywhere,” he said, further recalling how residents, many armed with AK-47 rifles, roamed the markets and streets of Damascus, adding to the tense atmosphere.

“The situation is not good there. I would say that in the coming few days, the situation is going to be worse there,” he said.

As the rebels consolidate power, Mohammed al-Bashir has been appointed caretaker prime minister to lead the interim government until March 1. Having previously headed the rebel-led Salvation Government, al-Bashir’s leadership begins in a deeply fractured Syria.

Also read:
With Bashar al-Assad gone, who is in control of Syria? What happens next?

After escaping the turmoil in Syria, Ravi Bhushan extended his gratitude to the Indian government for its timely intervention.

“India has started a rescue operation, and we are the first team rescued from Syria. The best part is that they contacted each and everyone. They were even motivating them and asking them if they were okay,” Bhushan told ANI.

Bhushan shared that the Syrian embassy kept evacuees informed with hourly updates about the rescue operation.

“If somebody faced any problem regarding food or anything, they arranged it. We are very much thankful to the Indian government and Indian embassies in Lebanon and Syria, both places,” he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a late-night statement said it coordinated the
rescue mission with the Indian embassies in Damascus and the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Bhushan also reflected on the plight of other nationals caught in the crisis. He described witnessing children and women from other countries sitting outside in freezing temperatures for hours.

“We saw how people from other countries were suffering. We saw small children and women, how they were made to sit outside for over 10-12 hours in the 4-5 degree temperature. It was really horrible. But because of Indian government, we did not face any such kind of issue,” Bhushan said.

Among the 75 Indians rescued were 44 ‘zaireen’ pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir who had been stranded in Saida Zainab. The group safely crossed into Lebanon and returned to India on commercial flights, the Indian embassy in Lebanon confirmed.

The MEA has urged Indian nationals still in Syria to remain in contact with the Indian Embassy in Damascus and has provided emergency helpline numbers and email IDs for assistance.

With input from agencies

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‘People roaming with AK-47’: The first Indian rescued after Assad’s fall recounts Syria horror