Urgent Appeal for Consular Support

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has appealed for immediate diplomatic intervention from the Government of India after reports emerged that over 4,000 Indian pilgrims are stranded in Saudi Arabia facing severe hardships.

Highlighting the distressing situation of the pilgrims, Owaisi called upon External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Ministry of Minority Affairs to coordinate with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah to resolve the logistical logjam immediately.

Pilgrims Battle Acute Bottlenecks

According to distress messages shared by pilgrims and their families, thousands of worshipers have encountered acute accommodation and transport failures following the core rituals of the pilgrimage. Key grievances raised include:

* Accommodation Shortages: Multiple groups reported being left without designated rooms or beds, forcing elderly and ailing pilgrims to wait in hotel lobbies and transit zones for hours. * Transport Disruption: Severe delays in bus transfers between Makkah, Madinah, and transit hubs left hundreds stranded under blistering daytime heat. * Essential Amenities: Families reported erratic access to drinking water, basic meals, and medical supplies during transit periods.

Owaisi emphasized that a significant portion of the affected pilgrims are elderly individuals and women who are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather and sudden logistical failures.

Role of the Indian Mission and Hajj Committee

India sends over 175,000 pilgrims annually to participate in the Hajj pilgrimage through both the Hajj Committee of India and private tour operators. While the bilateral arrangements between New Delhi and Riyadh have streamlined vast portions of the movement, local operator discrepancies and private tour failures frequently precipitate regional bottlenecks.

Consular officials in Jeddah have routinely mobilized emergency facilitation desks, helpline numbers, and local volunteer networks during annual operations. Owaisi urged the Ministry of External Affairs to hold defaulting tour operators accountable and deploy dedicated liaison officers on the ground to secure alternative lodging and return transport for the stranded citizens.

Demand for Structural Accountability

Community representatives and pilgrim welfare bodies have reiterated the demand for stricter oversight of private tour organizers and closer coordination between the Indian mission and Saudi authorities. As temperatures continue to hover near seasonal highs, families back home in India remain on edge, awaiting swift evacuation and safe passage for their loved ones.