DK Shivakumar Seeks Repatriation for 600 Stranded Umrah Pilgrims

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar requested the urgent intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs to repatriate more than 600 Umrah pilgrims stranded in Makkah and Madina, Saudi Arabia. In a letter dated October 23, 2026, Shivakumar reported that return flights to Bengaluru and other Indian cities were suspended because of an escalating security situation in the Middle East.

According to the Chief Minister, the stranded pilgrims are facing severe hardships, including exhausted financial resources and eviction from hotels. He noted that women, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable and urged the ministry to coordinate with Saudi authorities and airlines to arrange special flights and provide interim assistance.

In a separate development, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh provided an update on an October 10 attack at Riyadh Airport. The embassy reported that one Indian national died in the attack and several others were injured, though some victims remain in intensive care.