India's Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are actively engaging with airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of Umrah pilgrims affected by flight disruptions in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
Source: IANS
According to the MEA, about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims have travelled back to India on available flights over the past week. This is in addition to more than 10,000 normal Umrah pilgrims who were booked on available flights and have also returned during the same period.
"Arrangements are being discussed to facilitate the return of other Umrah pilgrims at the earliest. Our Embassy and Consulate, with the support from community volunteers are extending all possible welfare assistance. 24×7 Control Rooms have been established to help Indian nationals and regular advisories are being issued," the ministry said in its statement.
24×7 control rooms at the Embassy and Consulate, welfare assistance with community volunteers, and regular advisories for Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia, according to the MEA.
The consular push follows Wednesday's attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, in which, according to the MEA and the Indian Embassy, one Indian national was among two people killed and two other Indian nationals were injured. The Embassy said earlier in the day that it was ascertaining further details and contacting the affected families.
Flight operations to and from Saudi Arabia have been disrupted for days. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah had earlier advised pilgrims to look for alternative routes, noting that Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo had extended suspensions of their Saudi services until October 24 and Akasa Air until October 27, while Saudi carriers continued some flights.
Source: Madhyamam