Around 500 Umrah pilgrims from Mangaluru stranded in Saudi Arabia amid flight disruptions

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 16, 2026: Around 500 Umrah pilgrims who travelled from Mangaluru are stranded in Saudi Arabia following the suspension of flight operations at major airports after attacks by Houthi rebels, the Dakshina Kannada Haj Umrah Private Tour Organisers’ Association has said.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, association vice-president Usman Saadi Pattori appealed to the state and Union governments to intervene immediately and facilitate the safe return of the stranded pilgrims to India.

He said the pilgrims, who hail from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kasaragod and Chikkamagaluru districts, had travelled to Makkah and Madinah from Mangaluru International Airport after September 20. Their initial 15-day hotel bookings have expired, but they have been allowed to extend their stay. However, uncertainty over their return journey continues.

Pattori also highlighted the financial difficulties faced by travel agencies due to the sudden flight cancellations. He said ticket refunds were likely to be delayed, while agencies were struggling to recover advance payments made to hotels for pilgrims’ accommodation, resulting in substantial financial losses.

The association urged airlines to process refunds in accordance with regulations and appealed to the authorities to consider the financial difficulties faced by travel agencies over hotel bookings.

It also requested passengers and pilgrims to cooperate with the agencies and allow them sufficient time to complete the refund process.

The disruptions have also affected the travel plans of many people who had made advance bookings for Umrah, personal trips and family visits during the October school holidays. Passengers scheduled to travel to and from Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Madinah have been affected, Pattori added.

Association general secretary Zakir Ikhlas Zakir, Hameed, Hasan Saad, Iqbal, Mohiuddin and others were present at the press conference.