Mangaluru: More than 500 pilgrims who traveled from the city for the umrah to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia are stranded, and unable to return despite completing their 15-day package, owing to flight cancellations and regional tensions.The Dakshina Kannada District Hajj and Umrah Private Tour Organisers’ Association has appealed to the central and state govts to coordinate suitable arrangements to facilitate their return home.Speaking at a press conference, association vice-president Usman Saadi Patori said that pilgrims are stranded at various locations across Saudi Arabia, including Riyad, Dammam, Jedda, and Medina.Travel plans for many have been disrupted. Due to flight cancellations, the refund process for passengers’ ticket fares is likely to be delayed. Furthermore, travel agencies are finding it difficult to recover advance payments made to hotels for pilgrims’ accommodation. The inability to retrieve amounts paid for certain hotel bookings has forced agencies to face financial losses, he added.He urged the central and state govts to intervene and ensure the safety of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Airlines must take measures to process refunds for affected passengers as per regulations. The authorities concerned should empathetically consider the challenges travel agencies face regarding hotel booking losses and refund accordingly. He also requested passengers and pilgrims to cooperate with travel agencies and allow the necessary time to process refunds.
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