Ahmedabad: Families across several Ahmedabad neighbourhoods are anxious as more than 50 Umrah pilgrims from the city remain stranded in Saudi Arabia, unable to leave Jeddah amid escalating tensions following the Iran–Israel conflict. Congress MLA from Jamalpur–Khadia, Imran Khedawala, who was approached by distressed families, said, “I received information that many passengers from neighbourhoods such as Jamalpur, Juhapura, Sarkhej, and Danilimda who had gone for Ramzan umrah are stuck at the Jeddah airport.” He said around 55 pilgrims reached the airport but were denied departure. “They were kept standing at Jeddah airport for three or four hours, then they were sent back saying the airport is closed.” The group, which includes women and children, is now staying in Mecca hotels. According to him, many are running short of essentials. “They don’t have money and some have run out of medicines,” he said, noting that they had prepared only for a ten-day trip. Khedawala has appealed to chief minister Bhupendra Patel to intervene and “ask the external affairs ministry and make arrangements for the pilgrims’ safe return.” In a separate account from the region, Prashant Babariya, a 32-year-old mechanical engineer from Surat’s Singanpor area who works at a refinery in Kuwait, said he witnessed missiles and drones being intercepted. “I live in Fahaheel, a coastal city in Kuwait, and work at a nearby oil refinery. The US Al-Salem airbase is right next to the refinery’s industrial zone. After Iran launched missiles and drones at the airbase, we could see many of them being intercepted.” He added that the atmosphere remains charged. “For the past two days, we have been hearing sirens going off. We are being taken to work with several precautions, and the atmosphere is tense.” Babariya said the Indian embassy has been in regular contact with residents, advising them to use designated shelters and stock up on essentials. “Yesterday, there were queues of people outside malls.” Meanwhile, Shailesh Amin, an advocate from Vadodara’s Karelibaug area, said he is stuck in Dubai under similar circumstances. “Every few hours, we hear loud explosions at a distance and also spot a missile fly over our heads.” While saying he was safe, he called the situation “scary”. “I hope the govt steps in and rescues those stranded here.”
