Dubai: Twin brothers Jackson and Benson will fly back to Kerala from Dubai on Thursday, finally ending their 50-day ordeal.
They spent the initial 12 days at the airport, with not even a change of clothing, and surviving on food given by authorities. They were later moved to a hotel. They have been given free flight tickets by the Indian Embassy.
The twins, natives of Puthiyathura in Thiruvananthapuram, started their journey from Lisbon in Portugal on March 18 afternoon.
The brothers reached Dubai the next morning, but were stranded at the airport for the next two weeks.
Though they had relatives in Ajman, the twins were not allowed to meet them or step out. Then a relative, Pushpan Simon, passed on clothes to them with the help of airport personnel.
The twins were given food coupons by the airport authorities in the initial days. Then Indian Consulate in Dubai provided help to buy food. They were later shifted to the hotel, but continued to be in isolation.
The twins, who work in Portugal, had applied for resident visa. Just when they were about to be issued the visa, the country was rattled by COVID-19.
They both plan to return to Portugal after their wedding and dream of starting a business in the European country.
Three other Keralites were also stranded with them at the airport.
