Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah are actively engaging with airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of stranded Umrah pilgrims, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said.
According to the Ministry, about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims have travelled from Saudi Arabia back to India on available flights over the past week. This is in addition to more than 10,000 regular Umrah pilgrims who were booked on the available flights and have returned to India during the same period.
The Ministry said arrangements are being discussed to facilitate the return of the remaining pilgrims at the earliest. The Embassy and the Consulate, with support from community volunteers, are extending all possible welfare assistance. Round-the-clock control rooms have been established to help Indian nationals, and regular advisories are being issued.
Indian nationals can contact the 24×7 control room at the Embassy of India in Riyadh on +966-554412016 and +966-542126784. A toll-free number, 8002471234, is available for calls from within Saudi Arabia only, and a WhatsApp number, +966-536216082, is available for messages only. The 24×7 control rooms at the Consulate General of India in Jeddah can be reached on +966-12-2614093 and +966-556122301, with a WhatsApp number, +966-536209704, for messages only.
The statement did not spell out the reasons for the pilgrims being stranded. Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah that Muslims can undertake at any time of the year, and thousands of Indians travel to Saudi Arabia for it each month, often through registered tour operators who arrange flights, accommodation and local transport. When flights are disrupted or bookings are affected, pilgrims who have completed their stay can find themselves waiting for seats, which is why coordination between missions, airlines and operators becomes essential.
For families in India, including many in Jammu and Kashmir where the pilgrimage is widely undertaken, news of stranded relatives can be a source of great anxiety. The establishment of dedicated helplines offers them a direct way to seek information and assistance, and the figures released by the Ministry suggest that a large number of pilgrims have already returned home.
The Ministry has indicated that efforts will continue until the remaining pilgrims are brought back, and further updates are expected to be shared through the official channels of the missions.
