Over 100 Kashmiri Umrah Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia Amid Flight Disruptions

Srinagar, Oct 24 : More than 100 Umrah pilgrims from Kashmir are stranded in Mecca and other parts of Saudi Arabia amid escalating tensions in West Asia, with flight cancellations and soaring airfares preventing them from returning home.

The pilgrims are struggling to arrange affordable return tickets following disruptions reportedly linked to Houthi missile attacks on Saudi airports. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is working on arrangements to facilitate their return, officials said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said pilgrims from several parts of the world were facing similar difficulties. He pointed out that flights had not been completely suspended, but the sharp increase in airfares had made it difficult for stranded pilgrims to afford tickets.

Omar said the J&K government would take up the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs. He added that if the ministry lacked the funds to bring the pilgrims back, the Union Territory administration would use its own resources.

For those stranded, the prolonged wait has raised serious concerns over financial difficulties, access to medicines and mental health.

A group of 50 Umrah pilgrims departed from Srinagar on September 25. Their IndiGo return flight, scheduled for October 13, was cancelled, leaving 36 members of the group stranded. The remaining 14 managed to arrange alternative tickets and returned home via Dubai a few days later.

"Every route home from Jeddah, whether via Dubai, Muscat or Kuwait, costs more than one lakh rupees per person," said Waqar Mir, a member of the group.

He said the stranded pilgrims were borrowing money from one another to meet accommodation and food expenses. Medicines in Saudi Arabia were expensive and often required local prescriptions, leaving some elderly pilgrims struggling to obtain essential medication.

Mir also said several members of the group had experienced anxiety and panic attacks, with some facing severe psychological distress.

The tour operator has reportedly described the flight cancellation as an "act of God" and expressed its inability to assist the group. Meanwhile, the pilgrims said the Indian Embassy had informed them that the responsibility rested with the tour operator.

Officials have advised the stranded pilgrims to explore alternative flights operated by Saudia, flynas and Emirates, including services through neighbouring countries.

"We are all on our own," Mir said.

The disruptions come amid escalating tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday that around 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims had returned to India over the past week, along with more than 10,000 others who travelled on previously booked flights.

He said arrangements for the remaining pilgrims were being discussed. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are coordinating with airlines and tour operators, while 24-hour control rooms have been established to assist those in need.

Saudia has continued operating its scheduled flights to India from Dammam, Jeddah and Medina.

However, for the Kashmiri pilgrims still stranded in Saudi Arabia, the assurances have yet to translate into a confirmed journey home.

"We just want to come home. Our elders can't keep waiting like this," Mir said.