India asks nationals in Saudi Arabia to stay alert amid Houthi-linked attacks

India on Thursday advised its nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain alert and stay indoors if needed amid a worsening security situation in the Gulf kingdom after recent hostilities involving Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi group. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said Indians should follow directions issued by local authorities through official channels.

The advisory came as attacks on airports and other civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia disrupted flights between India and Riyadh. India also strongly condemned the attacks, saying the targeting of civilian infrastructure was "completely unacceptable".

In its advisory, the embassy said, "In view of the current situation, all Indian nationals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to remain alert and vigilant, stay indoors as necessary, and follow the instructions issued by local authorities through official channels." It also strongly advised Indian nationals against circulating or reposting videos or news related to the ongoing events.

The mission said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, the Consulate in Jeddah and its outsourced services through VFS continue to function normally. It said the 24x7 helpline of the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra remains available at the toll-free number 8002471234. The Indian community has also been asked to follow the embassy's official social media handles for updates.

The security situation in Saudi Arabia has deteriorated in recent weeks. In the last few weeks, Houthi militants have targeted Saudi border regions, energy facilities and civilian infrastructure using armed drones and missiles. The country's airports have also come under attack in the latest escalation.

According to Saudi authorities, over the last two days, two people were killed and 28 injured in an attack at Abha Airport. In another attack on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, one person was killed and eight others were injured. The attacks have been attributed to Houthi militants.

The deteriorating security situation has also affected air services between India and Saudi Arabia. Air India and Air India Express have cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, while Akasa Air cancelled its Kochi-Riyadh and Riyadh-Kochi services on Thursday.

Air India Express said affected passengers have been offered complimentary rescheduling or a full refund. It operates 16 weekly flights to Riyadh from Bengaluru, Kochi, Kannur and Kozhikode. Air India has also cancelled its Riyadh services until October 10. It operates seven weekly flights to Riyadh from Delhi and Mumbai. The airline said flight AI2243 from Delhi to Riyadh returned to the national capital on Thursday and was subsequently cancelled, with full refunds offered to passengers.

Overall, India has asked its nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain cautious and follow official instructions as the security situation worsens, with embassy services continuing as normal and flight operations facing disruption after the recent attacks.

With PTI Inputs

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