Mangaluru: Around 500 Umrah pilgrims who travelled from coastal Karnataka and neighbouring districts are stranded in Saudi Arabia following flight cancellations, prompting a local association of private Haj and Umrah tour organisers to seek urgent intervention from the state and Union governments.

The Dakshina Kannada Haj Umrah Private Tour Organisers’ Association said the pilgrims had travelled from Mangaluru International Airport to Makkah and Madinah after September 20. Their return journeys have been disrupted following the suspension of flight operations at major airports after attacks attributed to Houthi rebels, the association said.

Addressing a press conference in Mangaluru on Thursday, association vice-president Usman Saadi Pattori appealed to the authorities to coordinate with the relevant agencies and airlines to facilitate the pilgrims’ safe return to India.

The stranded pilgrims hail from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kasargod and Chikkamagaluru districts. With their original travel schedules disrupted, they are facing uncertainty over when they will be able to return home.

Umrah pilgrims remain stranded after flight cancellations

According to the association, the pilgrims had travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, the Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah that can be undertaken outside the annual Hajj period.

Many had booked accommodation for an initial period of 15 days. Although those hotel bookings have expired, the pilgrims have reportedly been allowed to extend their stay while awaiting arrangements for their return.

However, the continued disruption to flights has left them uncertain about their travel plans and the additional expenses they may incur.

The association said the immediate priority was to ensure that the affected pilgrims could return safely and that the authorities addressed the difficulties arising from the sudden suspension of flight services.

The disruption has also placed additional responsibilities on travel organisers, who must coordinate accommodation and travel arrangements while waiting for airlines to provide information about cancellations, refunds and alternative services.

Association appeals to state and Union governments

Pattori urged both the Karnataka government and the Union government to intervene in the matter.

He said the authorities should work with airlines and other relevant agencies to help the stranded pilgrims return to India at the earliest possible opportunity.

The association’s appeal comes as families in Karnataka and neighbouring Kerala await information about relatives who travelled to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.

The affected travellers include residents of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka, Kasargod in Kerala, and Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka. Their return plans have been affected by the flight cancellations, according to the association.

The association has called for a coordinated response to address the immediate travel difficulties and reduce the uncertainty faced by the pilgrims.

The information provided at the press conference did not specify when normal flight operations would resume or when the affected passengers could expect to return.

Travel agencies face financial losses

The flight cancellations have also created financial difficulties for travel agencies that organised the pilgrimage packages.

Pattori said agencies had made advance payments to hotels for the pilgrims’ accommodation. Recovering those payments has become difficult because the travel plans were disrupted unexpectedly.

He also warned that the refund process for cancelled flight tickets could take time, leaving agencies with financial commitments even as they attempt to make fresh arrangements for their customers.

“The ticket refund process is likely to be delayed. Furthermore, travel agencies are finding it difficult to recover advance payments made to hotels for pilgrim accommodations, leading to severe financial losses,” Pattori said.

The association has urged airlines to process refunds in accordance with applicable regulations. It has also asked the concerned authorities to consider the financial difficulties faced by travel agencies over hotel bookings and advance payments.

For smaller operators, prolonged delays in recovering payments could affect their ability to manage other bookings and meet outstanding obligations.

The association has therefore sought consideration for both the stranded pilgrims and the agencies dealing with the financial consequences of the cancellations.

Pilgrims asked to cooperate with travel agencies

The association has appealed to passengers and pilgrims to cooperate with travel organisers and allow them the necessary time to process refunds.

It said the agencies were dealing with several related issues, including cancelled tickets, hotel payments and uncertainty over alternative travel arrangements.

Refunds may depend on the terms of individual bookings and the applicable airline policies. The association has called for airlines to follow the relevant rules while processing claims.

The request for cooperation comes amid concerns that prolonged disruptions could create difficulties for both passengers awaiting their money and travel operators attempting to recover advance payments.

The association said the authorities’ intervention would be important in resolving the situation and facilitating the return of those affected.

October holiday travel plans disrupted

The impact of the cancellations extends beyond Umrah pilgrims.

Pattori said the disruption had also affected people who had made advance bookings for personal trips, family visits and other travel during the October school holidays.

Passengers scheduled to travel to and from Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Madinah have been affected, he added.

The cancellations have disrupted carefully planned itineraries, particularly for families who had booked flights and accommodation well in advance.

The uncertainty has also created challenges for passengers who need to coordinate their return journeys with work, school and other commitments in India.

The association said the wider disruption had increased the pressure on travel agencies as they attempted to manage bookings, communicate with passengers and address refund-related concerns.

Travel organisers seek coordinated response

The association’s appeal highlights the difficulties that can arise when sudden flight cancellations affect large groups of international travellers.

For the stranded Umrah pilgrims, the immediate concern is securing a safe and reliable route back to India. For travel agencies, the priority is managing accommodation arrangements, recovering advance payments and processing ticket refunds.

A coordinated response involving the relevant government authorities, airlines and travel operators could help clarify the available options for passengers and reduce uncertainty over their return schedules.

However, the association did not provide a confirmed timeline for the resumption of flights or the return of the approximately 500 pilgrims.

The situation remains dependent on developments affecting flight operations and the arrangements made by the concerned authorities and airlines.

Association leaders raise concerns

Several office-bearers and members of the Dakshina Kannada Haj Umrah Private Tour Organisers’ Association attended the press conference.

Those present included general secretary Zakir Ikhlas Zakir, Hameed, Hasan Saad, Iqbal and Mohiuddin, among others.

The association reiterated its appeal for government intervention, airline cooperation and consideration for the financial challenges faced by tour organisers.

For the affected families, the main concern remains the safe return of their relatives from Saudi Arabia. The association has called on the authorities to address the disruption urgently and help bring the pilgrims home as soon as arrangements permit.