Bengaluru: More than 600 Umrah pilgrims from Karnataka are stranded in Makkah and Madina following the suspension of flight services from Saudi Arabia, prompting the state government to seek special flights for their safe return, Health Minister U.T. Khader said.
Khader said Akasa Air, IndiGo, Flynas and Air India Express had suspended services from Jeddah and Riyadh to Bengaluru and other parts of India amid the prevailing situation in the Middle East.
The Karnataka State Haj Committee has deputed a team comprising its chairman, executive officer and members to Makkah and Madina to meet the stranded pilgrims and assess their situation. With the support of Indian community voluntary organisations, arrangements have been made to provide them with free food, medicines and accommodation, the minister said.
Khader said he had written to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seeking directions to the authorities concerned to arrange special flights. The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has also been urged, through the Chief Minister, to restore flight operations at the earliest.
The minister said the airlines had been formally reminded in writing of their responsibility to ensure the return of passengers who travelled abroad on advance-booked tickets.
The Haj Committee is consulting legal experts on the possibility of filing a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court against the airlines over their alleged failure to fulfil this responsibility. A decision on the proposed legal action will be taken shortly, Khader said.
Pilgrims and their families can contact the Karnataka State Haj Committee for assistance on 94835 03132 or 78997 07775.
Reassuring the families, Khader said the safety and well-being of the pilgrims remained the government’s top priority.