Coastal Talk News | Bengaluru
Amid a security crisis and rising tensions in the Middle East, Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar has urged the central government to take immediate steps to bring home more than 600 pilgrims from Karnataka who are stranded in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia. Shivakumar wrote to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Friday. “More than 600 pilgrims from Karnataka who travelled for Umrah are stranded in Mecca and Medina because flights scheduled to return to Bengaluru and other parts of India have been temporarily suspended,” he said.
“The chairperson of the Karnataka State Haj Committee and their team, who recently visited the holy sites, have briefed us on the situation. The disruption to flights has left the pilgrims in serious difficulty. Many have run out of money and are struggling to pay for food and accommodation,” he said. “Hotel owners are asking the pilgrims to vacate their rooms, leaving elderly people, women and children unsure where to go. Local Indian and Karnataka volunteer organisations are providing temporary assistance, but they cannot meet everyone’s needs,” he added.
“On humanitarian grounds, I urge the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah to coordinate with Saudi authorities, airlines and other agencies to make urgent arrangements for the pilgrims’ safe return,” Shivakumar said. “The ministry should arrange special flights wherever necessary and provide the pilgrims with all essential assistance until they return safely,” he requested.
“This is an extremely serious matter and requires urgent attention. Karnataka government is ready to extend its full cooperation to ensure the pilgrims return safely and as soon as possible,” he said.
