Flight cancellations : Kashmiri Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia Tour operators seek govt assistance 3,000 returned in past week: MEA Remaining being assisted: Rijiju
Srinagar, : Dozens of Umrah pilgrims from Kashmir are reportedly stranded in Saudi Arabia following flight cancellations amid regional tensions, with tour operators seeking government intervention to facilitate their return and ensure food and accommodation for those affected.
According to tour operators in the Valley, several groups of pilgrims who had travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah are awaiting arrangements to return home after flight cancellations affecting services to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah.
The Jammu and Kashmir Association of Hajj and Umrah Companies (JKAHUC) has expressed concern over the situation, with its Secretary General, M. Younis Zahid, saying that around 30 to 35 tour operators have groups of pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia.
“We cannot share the exact figures, but it would be more than 300 pilgrims who are stuck due to the cancellation of flight operations,” Zahid said.
He said the All India Haj Umrah Tour Organisers Association had approached the concerned Ministry, seeking immediate intervention to facilitate the return of the stranded pilgrims.
Zahid said the association in Jammu and Kashmir had also appealed to the concerned authorities and the government to extend assistance to those affected. “We want the pilgrims to be assisted with food and accommodation till the flight operations resume,” he said.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah were coordinating with airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of affected pilgrims.
In a post on X, Jaiswal said around 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims had returned from Saudi Arabia to India over the past week on available flights. This was in addition to more than 10,000 pilgrims who had travelled on their scheduled Umrah journeys and returned during the same period.
“Arrangements are being discussed to facilitate the return of other Umrah pilgrims at the earliest,” he said.
The MEA spokesperson added that the Embassy and Consulate, with support from community volunteers, were providing welfare assistance. Round-the-clock control rooms have also been established to assist Indian nationals, while regular advisories are being issued.
Minister of Minority Affairs (MoMA) Kiran Rijiju said that after the safe return of more than 10,000 pilgrims, the remaining stranded pilgrims are being assisted.
“Govt is always proactive to 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,” Rijiju posted on X.
