34 J&K Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia amid flight suspensions

SRINAGAR — At least 34 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir who travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah have been stranded following flight suspensions and have appealed to the government to facilitate their safe and early return home.

According to the affected pilgrims, they were scheduled to return to Kashmir on October 13 but were unable to travel after airlines suspended services amid security concerns in the region.

The stranded passengers have urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and airlines to arrange their return, the news agency KNO reported.

Some passengers have managed to return through alternative routes and connecting flights, but the high cost of such travel has made it unaffordable for many, the pilgrims said.

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With their stay in Saudi Arabia extending beyond the planned schedule, several pilgrims said their financial resources were running low, making it increasingly difficult to meet expenses for accommodation, food and medicines.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has said IndiGo extended the suspension of its Saudi Arabia operations. Flights to and from Riyadh are suspended until October 31, while services connecting Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah have been cancelled until October 27.

Air India and Air India Express have also cancelled flights on all Saudi routes until October 24, while Akasa Air has extended its suspension until October 27, according to the information provided by the Indian mission.

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The disruptions have affected Indian nationals travelling to and from Saudi Arabia, including Umrah pilgrims.

The MEA said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah were coordinating with airlines and tour operators to assist affected passengers. The missions were also providing welfare support through community volunteers and had established round-the-clock control rooms to respond to requests for assistance.

The Indian mission has advised passengers requiring urgent travel to explore transit options through Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar, subject to applicable visa requirements.