NEW DELHI, October 22 (Aalimi Nation) – The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims have travelled from Saudi Arabia to India over the past week, as Indian missions in the kingdom work with airlines and tour operators to bring the remaining pilgrims home.
The ministry said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah are "actively engaging with concerned airlines and tour operators" to speed up the return of affected pilgrims. It said more than 10,000 other pilgrims who already held bookings also returned during the same period, and that arrangements for those still waiting are under discussion.
Stranded Umrah pilgrims: what the ministry said
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the embassy and the consulate, along with community volunteers, are providing welfare assistance to the affected pilgrims. Round-the-clock control rooms have been set up, and regular advisories are being issued to Indian nationals in the country.
According to the ministry, the airports at Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam remain operational, although some disruptions continue. The ministry did not give a figure for how many pilgrims are still in Saudi Arabia.
Flight suspensions
The disruption follows a sharp deterioration in security in parts of Saudi Arabia. Officials said Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo have suspended services to Saudi Arabia until October 24, while Akasa Air has suspended its flights until October 27. The ministry pointed pilgrims to Saudia and Flynas as alternative carriers.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has said that around 4,000 Indian pilgrims remain stranded in Makkah and Madinah after flights were cancelled. The ministry has not confirmed that number.
Attack at Dammam airport
The ministry has also strongly condemned continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Saudi aviation authorities have said two people were killed in a strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Wednesday, and Indian officials said one of the dead was an Indian national. Two other Indian nationals were injured, according to reports from the region.
Advice for Indian nationals
The ministry advised pilgrims and other Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to confirm their flight arrangements before travelling to an airport. It urged them to follow the instructions of local Saudi authorities, observe safety precautions, and avoid photographing, filming or sharing information about ongoing security incidents.
The ministry has listed round-the-clock helplines at the Riyadh embassy and the Jeddah consulate, and a toll-free number within Saudi Arabia, for pilgrims who need help. WhatsApp numbers have also been shared for sending messages. Families in India who are worried about relatives may contact the ministry or the respective missions for updates.
With several Indian carriers keeping their Saudi services suspended until the end of the week or longer, the pace of returns will depend on how quickly flights resume and on whether the security situation allows normal operations at Saudi airports. The ministry said arrangements for the remaining pilgrims are being discussed with airlines and tour operators, and that it will continue to issue advisories as the situation develops.
