20-plus Nagpur Umrah pilgrims stuck in Saudi Arabia as Middle East tension disrupts flights

Rising tension in the Middle East and disruption to flights have worsened difficulties for more than 20 pilgrims from Nagpur who went to Saudi Arabia for Umrah. Efforts are under way to bring them back to India safely. Families are anxious as the stranded include women and senior citizens.

More than 300 pilgrims have returned to Nagpur in the past 15 days. Meanwhile, about 500 pilgrims waiting to leave for Saudi Arabia for Umrah are waiting to learn when travel will begin.

With flights disrupted, pilgrims cannot fly directly to India and have to take an alternative route. The road journey from Madinah to Muscat, the capital of Oman, can take 30 to 35 hours. According to information from private tour operators, the plan is to bring the stranded pilgrims to Muscat by road first. From there, arrangements are being made to fly them to Mumbai or Hyderabad and then on to Nagpur.

However, the long road journey, the availability of flights and uncertainty over travel are causing the pilgrims many difficulties. Families are continuously seeking information about their safe return.

Higher ticket prices are also a financial burden. Pilgrims and their families said some one-way fares on the alternative route have reached Rs 50,000. The usual cost of travelling to Saudi Arabia from Nagpur or Mumbai is said to be about Rs 38,000. In the present situation, pilgrims are finding such expensive tickets hard to afford.

The families of the more than 300 pilgrims who have returned are relieved. Those who came back said they had to reach Mumbai via Makkah, Madinah and Muscat and then travel to Nagpur. Umrah pilgrim Imran Sheikh said the journey home via Makkah, Madinah and Muscat was challenging. He said he felt relieved on reaching Nagpur via Mumbai, and that his family had been worried throughout the journey.

Saleem Ansari expressed concern as his family members are still stuck in Saudi Arabia. Families have grown restless because they are not getting clear information about tickets and the return journey. He said their biggest hope is that their family members return home safely.

According to private tour operator Nadeem Qureshi, more than 300 pilgrims have returned to Nagpur in the past 15 days, while more than 20 are still in Saudi Arabia. Plans are being made to bring them by road to Muscat and from there to India via Mumbai or Hyderabad.

Families of pilgrims in Nagpur are now focused on their safe return home. Although more than 300 have returned, the families of the remaining pilgrims still have to wait.