Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has urged the Union government to take immediate steps to ensure the safe and early return of more than 600 Umrah pilgrims from the state who are stranded in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, due to flight disruptions.
In a letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the chief minister sought urgent intervention and coordination with Indian diplomatic missions and Saudi authorities to facilitate the pilgrims’ return.
Shivakumar also requested the arrangement of special flights, if required, to bring the stranded pilgrims back to India without further delay.
Pending their return, he urged the authorities to ensure adequate food, accommodation and other essential support for those affected by the disruptions.
Emphasising that the safety, dignity and well-being of the pilgrims must remain the priority, the chief minister said the Karnataka government was ready to extend all necessary cooperation to facilitate their safe return to the state.
