Rijiju: Stranded Umrah Travellers Reach India Safely

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that Umrah pilgrims who had been stranded in Saudi Arabia have reached India safely. He said authorities are continuing to assist others who remain in the Kingdom.

Rijiju stated that the government is consistently active in responding to the concerns of Indian citizens. In a statement posted on X, he shared contact information for the 24x7 control rooms functioning at the Embassy of India in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah.

He noted that stranded Umrah travellers had returned to India without harm. In addition, more than 10,000 regular Umrah pilgrims had already come back. Those still in Saudi Arabia are being provided help.

The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier, on Thursday, stated that the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were in regular touch with airlines and tour operators to ensure the swift return of affected pilgrims.

According to the ministry, nearly 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims had returned to India from Saudi Arabia in the past seven days through available flights. During the same period, more than 10,000 general Umrah pilgrims also came back.

The ministry said arrangements were being made for the quickest possible return of the remaining pilgrims. The Embassy and Consulate, supported by community volunteers, are offering all possible help. Two 24x7 control rooms have been set up for Indian nationals, and advisories are being released on a regular basis.

The statements followed an attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Wednesday that claimed two lives, one of them an Indian citizen. Two other Indian nationals were injured.

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said the death toll had risen to two, and that eight people had been injured. The injured included nationals of several countries, among them two Indians, two Yemenis, two Bangladeshis and one Nepali, along with one Saudi citizen. Injuries ranged from minor to serious, and they are receiving treatment at various hospitals.

The aviation authority said it was assessing the damage with relevant bodies, examining the security of the facilities and taking necessary steps to protect passengers, employees and the country's civil aviation system. It also said that the airport had resumed operations and air traffic had returned to normal.