BREAKING: A Nashville medical student, Aimen Choudhary, is trapped in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, amid escalating violence following the death of a notorious cartel leader over the weekend. Choudhary, 27, and her friends are facing serious safety concerns after the Mexican army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” on Sunday, triggering civil unrest in the region.
The group arrived at the Fiesta Americana Resort on Friday, expecting a relaxing vacation. However, by Saturday, the atmosphere turned ominous as smoke filled the skies and helicopters buzzed overhead. “Around lunchtime is when people started talking. They told us there was civil unrest going on in the region… then we started seeing smoke,” Choudhary recounted.
As the situation escalated, tour guides warned Choudhary and her friends about the dangers when they attempted to return from a snorkeling trip. “We couldn’t even find transportation back to the resort,” she said. Attempts to contact taxi and Uber services were futile as all operations had shut down. “There was no way to get back to our hotel,” she added.
In a moment of sheer panic, locals at the port offered shelter, but warned they could not guarantee safety if the group chose to leave. Realizing the gravity of their situation, they decided to walk the 30-minute journey back to the hotel, navigating through streets lined with smoldering vehicles. “It just hit us quickly… that this is in fact happening,” Choudhary expressed.
Once back at the resort, they encountered armed men in uniform and were instructed to shelter in place as authorities worked to stabilize the area. Choudhary’s flight scheduled for Tuesday remains uncertain, with numerous flights canceled in and out of Puerto Vallarta due to the unrest. “The best that we can do is hope,” she said, emphasizing the anxiety of the unknown.
Choudhary is not alone in facing the chaos. Fellow Nashville resident Watts Sawyer and his girlfriend are staying at the Four Seasons in Punta Mita, Nayarit, about an hour’s drive from Puerto Vallarta. They too have encountered the fallout from the violence, observing a large plume of smoke from a fire nearby. “One of the staffers showed my girlfriend a picture of the fire and Google translated, ‘Don’t leave the resort,’” Watts explained.
Local officials are advising tourists to seek shelter and minimize unnecessary movements as they work to restore order. Flights in Puerto Vallarta continue to be disrupted, with many travelers left in limbo.
Despite the turmoil, Choudhary remains grateful for the support from those around her. “We are taking it one day at a time,” she said, highlighting the resilience and kindness of the people they have encountered. “The people around us have been amazing and we’re doing the best that we can.”
This situation is developing rapidly, and travelers in the region are urged to stay informed and exercise caution. Authorities continue to monitor the unrest and provide updates as the situation evolves.
