India issues fresh Saudi advisory as airport closure, flight cancellations strand travellers

India on Friday issued a fresh advisory for its nationals in Saudi Arabia, urging them to follow local authorities' instructions and remain indoors in the event of an aerial attack, as continuing flight disruptions and the closure of Riyadh's international airport raised concerns over passenger safety and travel arrangements.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh also warned travellers, including those planning to undertake Umrah, to prepare for possible flight cancellations and extended stays in the kingdom. The advisory came amid heightened tensions in West Asia following the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which killed an Indian national and injured several others.

According to the embassy's latest update, two Indian nationals injured in the attack remained in the intensive care unit, while another was receiving treatment in the High Dependency Unit. Three other injured Indians were admitted to a normal hospital ward.

The October 10 attack had reportedly left 11 Indian nationals among the injured. The embassy did not identify those responsible for the attack in its latest advisory.

𝗥𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗱𝗵 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱

The embassy said Riyadh's international airport remained closed to flight operations, while airports in Dammam, Jeddah and Medina continued to function despite disruptions.

Several Indian airlines have extended the suspension of their services to and from Saudi Arabia, affecting passengers travelling between the two countries.

Air India and Air India Express have cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until October 20.

Akasa Air has suspended its Riyadh services until October 24 and flights to and from Jeddah until October 21.

IndiGo has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 24, according to the embassy's latest update.

The extended suspensions have created uncertainty for passengers with existing bookings, particularly those travelling for religious purposes or returning to India.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲

Despite the widespread cancellations, the embassy said some international services were continuing to operate from Saudi airports outside Riyadh.

"Saudia airlines continues to operate scheduled flights to Indian destinations from Dammam, Jeddah, and Medina. Flynas is operating scheduled flights on the Dammam-Lucknow sector," the embassy said.

It added that Flyadeal had announced Dammam-Mumbai flights for October 17 and 18.

Indian nationals requiring urgent departure from Saudi Arabia may also consider travelling through neighbouring countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, provided they obtain the necessary visas and comply with applicable entry and transit requirements.

The embassy advised travellers to remain informed about the operational status of their flights and make arrangements in accordance with official updates.

𝗨𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀

The advisory specifically cautioned Indian nationals planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah to consider the continuing uncertainty surrounding flight operations.

It warned that cancellations and disruptions could result in travellers having to remain in Saudi Arabia longer than originally planned.

In a separate advisory issued on Thursday, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah urged prospective Umrah pilgrims to review their travel arrangements, particularly if they were scheduled to fly through Jeddah or Madinah.

The consulate advised those facing uncertainty over their flights or accommodation to reconsider their immediate travel plans.

For passengers already affected by cancellations, the consulate asked those seeking assistance to keep essential documents and travel information readily available.

These include passport and visa details, contact information for Saudi Umrah service providers and Indian travel agencies, airline names and booking references.

In cases involving groups of pilgrims, travellers were also asked to provide information about the affected group, its location and the contact details of its coordinator.

The consulate said its control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah remained operational to assist Indian nationals affected by the disruptions.

𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝘀

The Indian Embassy reiterated that nationals should strictly follow instructions issued by Saudi authorities and avoid activities that could compromise their safety during the prevailing security situation.

"In view of the prevailing situation, all Indian nationals should continue following instructions by local authorities, stay indoors in case of aerial attack, and refrain from filming, publishing, or sharing any information, photos, or videos related to the ongoing events," the embassy said.

The consulate also cautioned people against posting personal details in public comments on social media while seeking assistance.

Instead, affected nationals were advised to use official consular assistance channels to communicate their concerns and provide relevant documents.

The warning against filming or circulating images and videos reflects the authorities' emphasis on public safety and compliance with local security instructions amid the continuing tensions.

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The October 10 attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has heightened concerns over civilian safety and regional air connectivity.

The death of an Indian national and injuries to several others have added urgency to the Indian mission's efforts to assist citizens in Saudi Arabia.

The continuing closure of Riyadh airport and repeated extensions of airline suspensions have also complicated travel plans for Indian workers, tourists and religious pilgrims.

The embassy said Friday's advisory was issued in continuation of earlier advisories released over the preceding days.

Indian nationals have been urged to remain alert, follow official announcements and exercise caution while making travel decisions until normal flight operations resume.