Several hundred Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad are stranded in Saudi Arabia after flight cancellations, and they are demanding that Indian authorities arrange alternative flights, food and accommodation until they can return home. The situation was reported as of 26 October 2026.

The pilgrims left for the pilgrimage early this month, when the security situation in the region was relatively calm. Since then, recent developments and flight disruptions have left many of them unsure when they will be able to fly back.

Money is running out, and pilgrims say help has not come. A pilgrim stranded in Makkah told reporters that they had already reached out to the consulate without any response. Their plea was blunt, and it carried real desperation.

“The money we brought with us has run out, and the government should step in to help us.”

The same pilgrim said several elderly people are also stuck in the holy city. For families back home in Hyderabad, that detail alone is enough to keep them awake at night.

Not every group is in crisis. Some tour operators say their pilgrims have not faced major problems so far. Mohammad Faiyaz Ali of Al Mizaan Tours and Travels, Masab Tank, is in Saudi Arabia with a group of around 100 pilgrims. He said Umrah rituals were continuing as usual. He acknowledged that there are certain disruptions in flights, but he said tour operators are raising the issues with local authorities and trying to resolve them. His group, he said, has not faced any problems yet.

That split picture matters. Some pilgrims are performing their rituals in relative calm, while others are watching their savings shrink and waiting for a flight that has not been confirmed.

Hyderabad’s political leadership is now pushing Delhi to act. Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has urged the union government to intervene and ensure the safe return of Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia. He called for coordination with airlines to arrange alternative flights. He suggested deploying larger aircraft or operating special services if necessary.

Why this hits Telangana directly. Around 4,000 Indians are reportedly stranded in Saudi Arabia. Of them, an estimated 1,500 to 1,800 are from Telangana. That makes this more than a distant consular problem for the state. Families in Hyderabad and across Telangana are waiting on news about relatives who are stuck in Makkah and Madinah, and many of them are uncertain about return schedules.

The security backdrop. The disruptions come amid heightened security concerns following reported drone and missile attacks, which have been attributed to Yemen’s Houthi movement. Flight operations have been affected as a result. Indian pilgrims in both Makkah and Madinah are now left waiting, with no clear timeline for their return.

What the Indian Consulate in Jeddah is doing. According to the reports, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah is coordinating with Saudi authorities, airlines and tour operators to facilitate the pilgrims’ return and address their immediate needs. Indian nationals have also been advised to follow the safety instructions issued by local authorities. Those instructions are the only official guidance cited so far, and pilgrims say they want more than advice.

Why so many people are affected. Umrah is a pilgrimage to Makkah that can be performed throughout the year. It draws thousands of Indians to Saudi Arabia every year, which is why a disruption of this scale is reverberating through families in Hyderabad and beyond. Each stranded traveller represents a household waiting for a phone call.

What remains unclear. The reports do not confirm when the alternative flights will be arranged or how many pilgrims will be moved in the next few days. They also do not say whether the consulate has responded to the individual requests made by pilgrims in Makkah. What is certain is that hundreds of people are waiting, their funds are thinning, and they are asking New Delhi and the consulate to act before the wait becomes a crisis.