The Indian embassy in Bahrain has pitched in to make arrangements for stranded compatriots to return to India via Saudi Arabia. There has been no commercial flight service to Bahrain since February end.

The Indian ambassador to Bahrain, Vinod K. Jacob, said, “The embassy in Riyadh is obtaining individual transit visa approvals from Saudi government. Transit visa requests are being referred by Indian embassy in Bahrain to Indian embassy in Riyadh. Priority is being given to stranded Indian nationals, especially those on tourist or short-term visas.”

Right now, returning to India via Saudi Arabia is the only option left for Indians stranded in Bahrain. Applicants for Saudi transit visa must have a confirmed flight ticket for onward travel to India, among other pre-conditions. Travellers from Bahrain who are holding the Saudi transit visa must leave from Saudi Arabia within 72-96 hours, which is the validity of the visa.

Qatar is, however, seeing a few flights taking passengers to countries, including India. But the number of flights are not enough, even as stranded passngers find exiting via Saudi Arabia a possible option.

The Indian embassy in Doha said: “Qatar Airways operated a Doha-Delhi flight Monday on which more than 300 Indian passengers stranded in Doha travelled to India… close to 1,000 Indians stranded in Doha on transit or short-term visits have departed on Qatar Airways flights over the last three days.”

The Civil Aviation Ministry of the government of India is looking at possibilities of increasing flights by holding meetings with airlines and other stakeholders. – editor@nrifocus.com