Bengaluru Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia as Middle East Tensions Disrupt Travel
A group of approximately 50 pilgrims from Bengaluru, currently visiting the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, find themselves stranded and facing significant hardship as escalating tensions across the Middle East have led to widespread flight cancellations and travel disruptions. The pilgrims, who include women, toddlers, and elderly individuals, were originally scheduled to return home to Bengaluru at 2 AM on March 2. Instead, they remain stuck in Saudi Arabia, grappling with soaring accommodation costs and dwindling resources while their anxious families back in India plead for governmental assistance.
Flight Cancellations Leave Pilgrims Scrambling for Support
The group departed from Bengaluru on February 15 and had been staying at the Al Shams Hostel in Medina. Their plans were abruptly upended when they learned of the flight cancellations around 7:30 PM local time on Saturday. Since receiving the distressing news, many pilgrims report having barely slept, instead spending their time making repeated calls for help to travel agents, local leaders, and Indian embassy officials.
Mohammed Inayath, a 32-year-old content creator from RT Nagar, Bengaluru, highlighted the group's dire situation in a social media post directed at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the early hours of Sunday. "We are attempting to extend our stay for another day, but with women, children, and heavy luggage, securing accommodation is immensely difficult," Inayath explained. "Rooms are costing approximately Rs 2,000 per person per day, including food, which is prohibitively expensive for many of us. Our travel agent has withdrawn support, and the Indian embassy directed us back to the agent. We are trying to contact local leaders, but so far, there has been no response. The situation here is calm, but we urgently need help to return home. I have my entire family with me; it is incredibly hard being stuck like this."
Mounting Financial and Emotional Strain on Families
For many pilgrims, this spiritual journey has now become a severe financial burden. Abdul Mannan, a 48-year-old signboard maker from Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, shared that the trip had already stretched his family's savings to the limit. "This is my first visit to Medina with my family. We spent about Rs 80,000 per person and have already used most of our savings," Mannan stated. "With hotel rooms costing around Rs 1,500 per day and food expenses at 60 Riyals (approximately Rs 1,456), many in our group are struggling immensely. The travel agent left us to manage on our own, and arranging help from India is proving very difficult. If this delay continues, accommodation, food, and medicines will become a serious concern. We urge the government to help us return home soon."
Back in Bengaluru, anxiety is spreading rapidly across neighborhoods as families await news of their loved ones. A friend of one stranded tourist mentioned, "I spoke with him yesterday evening; at that time, he said he was safe. Now I am contacting a few locals I know there to try and help them." The fear is particularly acute for families with vulnerable members. A 24-year-old student from Hulimavu expressed deep concern for her pregnant sister who is among the stranded pilgrims. "My sister is pregnant, and our entire family is worried about her… We are unable to do anything to bring them back and can only hope for their safety. She saw two missiles being dropped while she and her husband were on their way to her aunt's place, and she was extremely stressed. I am very scared about her medical condition now."
Broader Regional Tensions Impact Travelers Beyond the Pilgrim Group
The flight disruptions and regional instability are affecting other travelers from Bengaluru as well. In Whitefield, Bharath, a 27-year-old, recounted tense moments from a friends' group chat involving individuals in Dubai. "I have around seven friends in Dubai, and we have been close since class 4. One of them texted saying he sent a video showing a missile being dropped near his home, and then he suddenly went offline. For more than 30 minutes, he did not respond to any of our messages. Finally, he replied saying his network had been disrupted. Another friend got scared and moved to a different house. She freaked out hearing the sounds of the missile."
Furthermore, Ashik PA, who has been working in Dubai for the past three years and recently came to Bengaluru to visit friends, now faces uncertainty about his return. "I came last week and was supposed to return by the end of the week. Now I am stuck. I just started a new job and do not know what to do. Since it is a new job, I have to go back, but I am unsure how to manage this situation," Ashik said, echoing the widespread travel woes triggered by the ongoing Middle East tensions.
The stranded pilgrims and their families continue to appeal for immediate intervention from Indian authorities to facilitate their safe and swift return home, as they navigate the challenging circumstances far from their loved ones.
