Around 4,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia amid flight cancellations

Approximately 4,000 Indian pilgrims performing the Umrah pilgrimage remain stranded in Saudi Arabia following a spate of flight cancellations by major Indian carriers, according to reports from New Delhi.

Asaduddin Owaisi, a prominent opposition politician, raised the issue publicly, stating that cancellations by IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India have left the pilgrims in difficult circumstances. He has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to take immediate action to resolve the situation.

Owaisi has called for the deployment of larger aircraft or the arrangement of special flights to facilitate the stranded travelers' return to India. The cancellations have disrupted travel plans for pilgrims who had scheduled their return journeys through these carriers.

The incident highlights concerns about flight scheduling and passenger accommodation during peak pilgrimage seasons, when demand for air travel to and from Saudi Arabia traditionally increases. Airlines routinely adjust their schedules based on operational and commercial considerations, though mass cancellations affecting large numbers of passengers typically trigger government scrutiny.

The DGCA and airline authorities have not yet issued public statements regarding the situation or any remedial measures being considered.