Amid the recent Houthi attacks in the Middle East, thousands of Indian Muslim pilgrims are stranded in Saudi Arabia. With travel agents allegedly abandoning them, around 4,000 Indian pilgrims are stranded in Makkah and Madina, following flight cancellations.

Requests to rescue them have been pouring in from around the world, urging the Indian government and the aviation regulator to arrange additional flights to facilitate the pilgrims’ return to India.

The Indian government announced that it was coordinating with airlines and tour operators to arrange the return of the pilgrims safely back to India.

The Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, said Indian authorities were helping the pilgrims, adding that over a 10,000 of them had already returned to India.

In a post on X, he shared contact details of round-the-clock control rooms at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah.

Rijiju wrote: “The government is always proactive on the issues and concerns of Indian citizens. The stranded Umrah pilgrims have returned to India safely, in addition to more than 10,000 normal Umrah pilgrims who have returned earlier. Remaining Umrah pilgrims are being assisted.”

The Embassy of India in Riyadh can be contacted at +966-554412016 and +966-542126784. Its toll-free number, 8002471234, is available for calls from within Saudi Arabia. WhatsApp messages can be sent to +966-536216082.

The Consulate General of India in Jeddah can be reached at +966-12-2614093 and +966-556122301. Its WhatsApp number for messages is +966-536209704. – Image credit: wikipedia -editor@nrifocus.com