Delay in passport delivery

[psp84]

Hi all,
I am in a difficult situation with my passport delivery after a priority visa application.

Type of visa: Tier 2 General, priority
Date of application: August 14
Place of application: VFS Cochin.

As some of you might know, there were floods in Kerala for a week, because of which VFS was closed, courier services were in a standstill and the main airport was closed. Consequently, though the decision on my application was made on August 17th, the passport was available in the Chennai high commission only after August 29th. Even so, I was hoping that since mine was a priority application with the decision already being made, they would process it at the earliest and mail me the documents. That was not to be. My issue was escalated by then, and in different calls to the UKVI help center, I was given different dates as the "latest by" dates of receiving my documents. In response to the escalation, on September 6th, I was informed that my documents would be delivered soon and the visa application center would be in touch with me. To this day, that has not happened. In a further communication with VFS after this info from UKVI, I was once again informed that my application is still under processing. Then again, UKVI responded to my inquiry me last day that it is ready for delivery. The courier service also has no news.

My life is in shambles, to say the least. I am a UK resident for several years, on a dependent visa, and planned this 2 week trip to India only for this visa switching application. My family of 2 young children are struggling without me in UK, and now I only need my passport back, with or without the visa (the current one is valid till 2021). I have called and messaged UKVI and VFS numerous times, getting the same vague reply/promises that are always broken. My new job is in jeopardy, since the date of joining was September 1. I have even mailed a complaint to the British home office. At the same time, I see several applicants in this same board who have made their application well after mine, and have received their passports already. This makes me concerned if my passport has been lost somewhere during the transportation.

Is there anything at all for me to do, other than wait? If there is another number I can call or another id to which I can drop a mail, I am ready to do that. I only need my passport back and be with my family.

Kindly let me know if you think I have any more options left.