Being shunted from one lodge to another, we don’t know when we’ll get back home, say Karnataka pilgrims stranded in Jeddah

“We are being taken from one lodge to another in Jeddah. We don’t know who is taking us around — the airlines or the travel agents. At least 180 of us were told on October 21 that we were being taken to the airport, but we were brought to another lodge with just two rooms. There is no arrangement for food or water here,” said Afshad, one of the 600 pilgrims from Karnataka stranded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, following flight cancellations amid escalating Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi airports and energy infrastructure. 

The pilgrims, who were scheduled to return on October 21, have since been shuttling between the airport and lodges, with repeated cancellations leaving them unsure when they can return home or where they will stay in the meantime.  

Elders facing issues

Many told The Hindu that they were travelling with elderly family members, some of whom have diabetes and other health conditions. With expenses mounting and food and accommodation difficult to secure, pilgrims who still had money were pooling resources to help those who could no longer afford the basics.

The pilgrims had travelled in groups from Bengaluru, Belagavi and Hubballi for Umrah on October 7. Their journeys were booked through private tour operators. With flights cancelled amid the deteriorating security situation, the pilgrims said their travel agents had left them to make their own arrangements. 

Imran, a pilgrim from Bengaluru, said each person had paid at least ₹30,000 towards flights, food and accommodation in the last two days. With hotels full, pilgrims were asked to vacate their rooms. “We tried to take shelter at the airport, but as the crowds grew, we had to leave from there too,” he said. Mr. Imran added that a group of 40 pilgrims from Bengaluru was taken in three buses to a lodge, only to be moved again. “Some people come and tell us they are arranging our travel and take us to the airport, but we end up at one hotel or another,” he lamented. 

Javed, a pilgrim from Belagavi, said the group’s return tickets on Akasa Air were cancelled on October 8. They were told that services would resume on October 20, and hence, many waited rather than spending more money on alternative tickets. 

Chartered flight

When they could not get tickets on October 20, the group tried to arrange a chartered flight through Flydeal. “The travel agents told us we would be able to leave, so we went to the Jeddah airport again on October 22. But after reaching there at 2.30 a.m., we were again told that the flight had been cancelled,” Mr. Javed said. 

The uncertainty continued, and the pilgrims stayed back at the airport, hoping to get seats on any operating flight. “We were told some arrangements were made and we all paid extra. Even boarding began for a flight around 3 a.m., and the luggage of a few passengers had already been loaded but even that flight was cancelled again. We could not even get our luggage back. The airline said we would get it after services resumed. We have no idea when that will happen,” a pilgrim said. 

CM seeks urgent intervention

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar seeking urgent intervention to facilitate the safe return of over 600 Karnataka Umrah pilgrims stranded in Makkah and Madina amid flight suspensions. He said many had exhausted their funds and were struggling to secure food and accommodation. He requested the Centre to coordinate with Saudi authorities and airlines and arrange special flights wherever necessary.