4,000 Indian Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Attacks, Repatriation Underway

Thousands of Indian Umrah pilgrims find themselves stranded in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, as escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi airports trigger widespread flight cancellations. While India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reports that around 3,000 pilgrims have returned home in the past week, approximately 4,000 still await repatriation, caught in a worsening regional security situation that saw an Indian national killed in a recent airport attack. This crisis stems directly from intensified Houthi attacks targeting civilian infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, including major aviation hubs like King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, leading to airlines like IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India suspending or rescheduling flights. The disruption has left many pilgrims in dire financial straits, abandoned by some tour operators, prompting All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi to sharply criticize the government's response and demand urgent intervention, including special flights or permission for larger aircraft. In response, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah have set up 24/7 control rooms and are actively coordinating with airlines and local authorities to facilitate the return of the remaining pilgrims and offer welfare assistance. With some flight suspensions extended until late October, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and swift repatriation of those still stranded. The incident underscores the severe human cost of ongoing regional Red Sea tensions and the critical need for robust government oversight of international pilgrimage services.