India advises nationals in Saudi Arabia to stay indoors
India has issued a fresh advisory to its nationals in Saudi Arabia, urging them to remain “alert and vigilant” and follow instructions from local authorities amid the deteriorating security situation in the Kingdom following a series of Houthi attacks.
In its advisory, the Indian government asked all Indian nationals to remain cautious, stay indoors whenever necessary and closely monitor official communications from Saudi authorities.
“Indian nationals are advised to remain alert and vigilant, stay indoors as necessary, and follow the instructions issued by local authorities through official channels,” the advisory said. The government has also strongly advised Indian nationals not to circulate or repost videos, photographs or news related to the ongoing events. The move is aimed at preventing the spread of unverified information during the heightened security situation.
The Embassy of India in Riyadh and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, along with their outsourced services through VFS, continue to function normally, according to the advisory.
The Indian missions said they will continue to monitor developments and issue further updates and advisories whenever necessary. For emergency assistance, the 24x7 Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) helpline is available at 8002471234. The Indian community has also been advised to follow the official social media handles of the Embassy of India for verified information and further updates. The advisory comes after recent Houthi attacks targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. According to Saudi authorities, the attacks killed three people and injured 36 others.
Two people were killed and 28 injured in the attack on Abha airport, while the strike on King Khalid International Airport left one person dead and eight injured.
India has strongly condemned the attacks, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure “completely unacceptable.” The Ministry of External Affairs also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. India also expressed solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia amid the escalation.
The attacks have also affected commercial aviation in the region. An Air India flight from Delhi to Riyadh turned back mid-air and returned to the national capital amid heightened security concerns.
Air India and Air India Express have suspended flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, as airlines reassess operations amid the evolving security situation.
The latest developments have raised fresh concerns over aviation safety and the security of Indian nationals travelling to or residing in Saudi Arabia.
