India news: Thousands of Indian pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks disrupt flights, government facilitating return

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• Thousands of Indian Muslim pilgrims are stranded in Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
• Indian government said it is coordinating with airlines and tour operators to arrange for their return

Here is a roundup of our coverage from India from Friday, October 23:

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Skip next section India coordinating return of Muslim pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia

October 23, 2026

India coordinating return of Muslim pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia

The Indian government said on Thursday it was working to facilitate the return of Muslim pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia following flight disruptions caused by Houthi attacks on airport infrastructure.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah were coordinating with airlines and tour operators to arrange their return.

Around 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims had returned to India on available flights over the past week, alongside more than 10,000 other Umrah pilgrims who travelled on scheduled services, according to the ministry statement. Umrah refers to the pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites outside of the month of Dhul-Hijja.

"Arrangements are being discussed to facilitate the return of other Umrah pilgrims  at the earliest," the ministry said.

Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi had said around 4,000 Indian pilgrims were stranded in Mecca and Medina after Indian carriers cancelled flights.

As Saudi Arabia's revived war with the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels has intensified in recent weeks, with the Yemeni rebels targeting several major Saudi airports, some Indians have found themselves caught in the middle.

On Wednesday, one Indian national was killed and two others injured in an attack on Dammam airport in Saudi Arabia, while another was injured in an attack on the Shaybah oil field.

Can Yemen's government turn the tide against the Houthis?

https://p.dw.com/p/5OZdE

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage!

October 23, 2026

Welcome to our coverage!

Hello! This is Shakeel from DW's New Delhi bureau bringing you the latest updates from across India.

The escalating conflict between Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia has left Indian Muslim pilgrims caught in the crossfire. The Indian government says it is coordinating efforts to ensure their safe return home.

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