Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru/Mangaluru

Bengaluru/Mangaluru, Oct 23: With over 500 Umrah pilgrims from coastal Karnataka and Kasargod remaining stranded in Saudi Arabia due to flight suspensions amid Middle East tensions, the Karnataka state government has stepped in to coordinate relief and rescue efforts.

As reported earlier by Daijiworld, while a few pilgrims have managed to travel by road to Qatar to catch alternative flights, hundreds remain stuck as airlines like Air India Express and IndiGo suspended operations until October 24.

Escalating the matter, local tour operators, political leaders, and anxious family members have now appealed for urgent intervention from the Union and state governments.

Health and family welfare minister U T Khader stated that officials are in constant touch with the stranded pilgrims. The state Haj committee chairman and other officials have met the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia to assess the situation on the ground and assure them of necessary assistance.

With the low exchange rate of the Indian Rupee against the Saudi Riyal, pilgrims are being forced to spend around Rs 1,500 per person per day just on meals. Officials have assured that food arrangements will be made for those running out of funds, and a dedicated helpline is being set up.

While associations of tour organisers have been pleading for government help, sources indicate that several pilgrims who travelled on low-cost packages via private agents have been left in the lurch. Efforts are currently underway to accommodate the stranded citizens on flights scheduled for October 24 and October 27.

Meanwhile, desperate family members have urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to grant immediate special permission for IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India to operate rescue flights directly from Riyadh or Jeddah. Former Minorities Commission chairman Abdul Azeem has also urged the concerned authorities to take swift action to bring the pilgrims back to Karnataka safely.

Adding to the crisis is the uncertainty over ticket refunds. Karnataka State Haj Organisers' Association president Iqbal Siddiqui said discussions are ongoing with officials to secure refunds for cancelled flight tickets, which would help the stranded individuals purchase new ones.

However, many pilgrims who opted for budget packages may not be eligible for full refunds, plunging them into severe financial distress as they are forced to spend large sums of money again to secure new tickets home.