India helping stranded Umrah pilgrims return from Saudi Arabia

The Indian government is assisting stranded Umrah pilgrims in returning to India from Saudi Arabia following attacks on civilian infrastructure that disrupted travel and resulted in fatalities. Indian diplomats and officials are collaborating with airlines and tour operators to transport pilgrims back home. As of the latest update, approximately 3,000 pilgrims had successfully returned over the past week, while an additional 10,000 travelers with regular flight bookings also returned, bringing the total number of returning pilgrims to over 13,000.

The Ministry of External Affairs urged airlines to utilize larger aircraft or arrange special flights to accommodate the remaining pilgrims awaiting repatriation. The Indian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah are coordinating with relevant stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the remaining pilgrims. The Indian government has also issued advisories regarding transit routes and issued a 24-hour control room to assist Indian nationals.

Furthermore, the embassy confirmed that one Indian national was killed and two others injured in the recent attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.