Hundreds of Hyderabad Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia amid flight cancellations

Several hundred Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad are stranded in Saudi Arabia following flight cancellations. They have appealed for alternative flights, food and accommodation. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has urged the Centre to coordinate with airlines to facilitate their safe return.

Hyderabad: Several hundred Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad are stranded in Saudi Arabia following flight cancellations and have appealed to Indian authorities to arrange alternative flights and provide food and accommodation until they can return home.
They had left for the pilgrimage early this month, when the security situation in the region was relatively calm. However, recent developments and flight disruptions have left many uncertain about their return.

“We have sought help from the consulate but have not received any response. We request its intervention to facilitate our earliest possible return to India. The money we brought with us has run out, and the government should step in to help us,” a pilgrim stranded in Makkah told reporters, adding that several elderly people are also stranded .
However, some tour operators said their groups had not faced any major difficulties so far. Mohammad Faiyaz Ali of Al Mizaan Tours and Travels, Masab Tank, who is in Saudi Arabia with a group of around 100 pilgrims, said Umrah rituals were continuing as usual.

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“There are certain disruptions in flights. Tour operators are taking up the issues with local authorities and trying to resolve them. So far, our group has not faced any problems,” he told Telangana Today.
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has urged the union government to intervene and ensure the safe return of Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia. He called for coordination with airlines to arrange alternative flights, including deploying larger aircraft or operating special services if necessary.

Around 4,000 Indians are reportedly stranded in Saudi Arabia, including an estimated 1,500 to 1,800 from Telangana.
The disruptions come amid heightened security concerns following reported drone and missile attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi movement. Flight operations have been affected, leaving Indian pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah uncertain about their return schedules.

The Indian Consulate in Jeddah is coordinating with Saudi authorities, airlines and tour operators to facilitate the pilgrims’ return and address their immediate needs. Indian nationals have also been advised to follow local authorities’ safety instructions.
Umrah, a pilgrimage to Makkah that can be performed throughout the year, draws thousands of Indians to Saudi Arabia annually.