The Ministry of External Affairs of India announced that last week, about 3,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims who were stranded in Saudi Arabia returned to their homeland. This return was facilitated through active coordination among Indian diplomatic missions, airlines, and tourism operators.
Facilitation of Pilgrims' Return
In addition to the stranded pilgrims, over 10,000 Umrah pilgrims who had planned their trips normally also returned to India during the same period. Indian officials are actively working to facilitate the return of the remaining pilgrims as quickly as possible.
Read more: The United States government indicated proximity to a peace agreement in the Ukraine war
Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, announced in a post on the social media platform X that the Indian embassy in Riyadh and the consulate general in Jeddah are closely monitoring the situation and have comprehensive ground support.
Emergency Support and Essential Contacts
Jaiswal added: "Our embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah are actively engaging with airlines and tourism operators to facilitate the return of affected pilgrims. Last week, about 3,000 Umrah pilgrims traveled from Saudi Arabia to India." He also noted that this number adds to over 10,000 regular pilgrims who were booked on available flights.
The Ministry of External Affairs of India has also published official contact numbers and special helplines for Indian citizens in Saudi Arabia:
- Indian Embassy, Riyadh: Phone: +966-554412016; +966-542126784 Toll-free: 8002471234 (domestic calls only from KSA) WhatsApp (messages only): +966-536216082
- Indian Consulate General, Jeddah: Phone: +966-12-2614093; +966-556122301 WhatsApp (messages only): +966-536209704
On Thursday, the Indian embassy in Riyadh announced that an Indian citizen was among the two killed in the attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, two other Indian citizens were injured in this attack.
Investigations and Security Measures
The Indian embassy stated that it is gathering more information and contacting the affected families. "We are in the process of gathering more information and reaching out to the affected families. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of the deceased, and we wish a speedy recovery for the injured."
According to Saudi officials, the death toll in this attack has risen to two, which includes one Saudi citizen and one Indian resident. Additionally, the number of injured remains at eight, which includes one Saudi citizen, two Indian residents, and residents from Yemen, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia announced that efforts are underway in cooperation with relevant security agencies to assess damages and implement necessary measures to ensure the safety of passengers and airport staff. This incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, October 21, at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi officials stated that investigations and damage assessments are ongoing and that security agencies have implemented necessary measures to ensure the safety of airport operations and personnel.
Read more: Turkey hosts foreign ministers of regional and European countries to discuss regional conflicts · The Quad leaders' summit will be held next month
