New Delhi: About 3,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims who were stranded in Saudi Arabia have returned home on available flights over the past week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, October 22.

Source: ANI via LatestLY — Around 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims return from Saudi Arabia over past week: MEA, Oct 23, 2026

MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah are actively engaging with airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of the affected pilgrims. This is in addition to more than 10,000 normal Umrah pilgrims who were booked on available flights and have also travelled back to India over the past week, he said.

Source: ANI via LatestLY — Around 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims return from Saudi Arabia over past week: MEA, Oct 23, 2026

3,000stranded Umrah pilgrims returned in a week
10,000+regular pilgrims also returned in the same period
24×7control rooms at the Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah

Jaiswal said the embassy and consulate, with 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. Arrangements are being discussed to facilitate the return of the remaining pilgrims at the earliest, he added.

Source: The Hindu via ScoopFeeds — Indian embassy engaging with airlines for early return of affected pilgrims from Saudi Arabia: MEA, Oct 22, 2026

The disruption followed flight cancellations amid escalating Saudi Arabia–Houthi tensions. AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said on Thursday that around 4,000 Indian pilgrims were stranded in Makkah and Madina after flights operated by IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India were cancelled, and he urged the Centre and the DGCA to permit larger aircraft or special flights for their return. Owaisi also alleged that some travel agents had abandoned the pilgrims — an allegation the agents have not publicly answered in these reports.

Source: Daily Jagran — 4,000 Indian pilgrims stranded in Mecca and Medina, Oct 22, 2026

What is solid

  • MEA says about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims returned from Saudi Arabia on available flights over the past week, and over 10,000 regular pilgrims also returned in the same period.
  • India's Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah have set up 24×7 control rooms and are engaging airlines and tour operators for the remaining returns.

What is only claimed

  • AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's figure of about 4,000 pilgrims stranded in Makkah and Madina, and his allegation that travel agents abandoned them, are his claims; the MEA statement did not directly respond to them.