Run out of money: Hyderabadi Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi

Several Hyderabadi Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia have appealed to AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Indian authorities for help after their scheduled departure on Monday, October 19, was cancelled.

A video widely circulating on social media shows a group of pilgrims describing their difficulties and seeking intervention. One of them says their attempts to contact the Indian Embassy and Haj House have not yielded a response.

The pilgrims claim they have run out of money and are struggling to arrange food and accommodation. Women and children are also among those reportedly stranded. The speaker further alleges that their hotel owners and travel agency have not responded to their requests for assistance.

Watch the video here

A video widely circulating on social media shows Hyderabadi Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia appealing to AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy and Indian authorities for help after their October 19 flight was cancelled. They claim… pic.twitter.com/Uchove17Iv

— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) October 26, 2026

The group has urged the authorities to arrange their return to India and provide essential support in the meantime.

On Thursday, October 22, Owaisi called on the Centre to facilitate the return of around 4,000 Indian pilgrims stranded in Makkah and Madinah. In a post on X, he said their return journeys had been affected by flight cancellations involving IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India.

He urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to allow airlines to deploy larger aircraft or arrange special flights. Owaisi also alleged that travel agents had abandoned pilgrims and called for urgent government assistance.

The appeal comes amid wider disruption to air travel in Saudi Arabia following reported attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi movement.

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was reportedly targeted earlier in October. According to the civil aviation authority, a projectile strike on October 11 killed one person and injured 11, while an attack on October 10 reportedly killed 14 people and injured more than 300.

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