'1st Day Was Very Difficult, Settled In Now': Air India Fliers Stranded In Russia

Two Air India fliers NDTV spoke to said they got no food or water for the first two-three hours and getting vegetarian food options has been an issue.

Two passengers on the Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight that was diverted to Russia's remote town of Magadan told NDTV today that it was "extremely hard" for them on the first day, they were given no food or water for the first two-three hours and that there are very few options for vegetarian food. They also spoke about a woman in her nineties having only enough medicines to last one or two days. 

They added, however, that things have been looking up since the second day and the Russian authorities have been helpful.

Air India said the replacement flight which will take all passengers and crew onward to San Francisco has left for Magadan from Mumbai and will arrive there at 6.30 am local time (1 am IST). 

NDTV spoke to Girvaan Singh and his young brother, Jaivant. Asked how difficult it had been for them, Girvaan said, "So, for the first day, it was extremely hard for all of us. The weather is harsh and cold, and it was extremely windy. I was in half-sleeves and shorts. When we reached the hotel room, we had no food or water for two to three hours, and we got water around 3 am in the morning."