India steps up efforts for safe return of pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia - Indian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah are working with airlines and tour operators to facilitate early return of Umrah pilgrims affected by disruption caused by Houthi attacks; over 3,000 pilgrims have come back home in past week.
Kallol Bhattacherjee reports - Amid escalating attacks by Houthi (Ansar Allah) forces on Saudi Arabia, Indian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah are working with stakeholders to facilitate early return of thousands of stranded Indian pilgrims, External Affairs Ministry said Thursday. "Our embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are actively engaging with concerned airlines and tour operators to facilitate early return of affected pilgrims. Over past week, about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims have travelled from Saudi Arabia back to India on available flights," said Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
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International flight connections to Saudi Arabia have been disrupted following Houthi attacks on several major airports in country, including capital, Riyadh, and Dammam. Besides Indians, many pilgrims from other countries also stranded in Saudi Arabia
"Arrangements are being discussed to facilitate return of other Umrah pilgrims at earliest," Jaiswal said. Ministry strongly condemned continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field in Eastern Province on October 21. "We also reiterate that attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately. We stand in solidarity with people and Government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, and hope that peace and normalcy would return to region at earliest," it said in statement.
MP seeks intervention - Earlier, AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi took to social media to flag plight of around 4,000 Indian pilgrims who had flown to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage but were stranded because Indian carriers like IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air had cancelled their flights due to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian airports. Mr Owaisi called for urgent intervention from Government of India and said DGCA must give airlines permission to run flights with large aircraft so that these stranded pilgrims can return to India. If not, at least specified flights must be arranged to bring them back, earlier on Thursday spokesperson of Houthi forces said large boat carrying 14 Indians came under attack near Red Sea close to Bab al-Mandeb.
Indian officials have not confirmed any assistance reaching struck boat so far while Indian Embassy in Yemen has said it will provide all possible help for ensuring safety and well-being of Indian nationals.
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Ministry has put out following numbers of 24x7 Control Rooms - Embassy of India, Riyadh: +966-554412016; +966-542126784; Toll-free: 8002471234 (Calls from within Saudi Arabia only), WhatsApp (messages only): +966-536216082; Consulate General of India, Jeddah: +966-12-2614093; +966-556122301 WhatsApp (messages only): +966-536209704.
Analytically, Houthi attacks on Saudi airports show war expanding beyond Gaza and Hormuz - now hitting Hajj/Umrah routes, affecting Indian Muslims directly. For India, which has 180 million Muslims, largest Umrah contingent outside Pakistan, safe return is domestic political imperative. For airlines, rerouting via longer routes raises fuel cost, ticket prices up 30%.
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