Refund ‘umrah’ fare to pilgrims

With airlines cancelling flights to Saudi Arabia on account of the geopolitical unrest in South Asia, several pilgrims who had booked flights to perform the umrah pilgrimage are yet to receive refunds, a umrah organisers collective said.

Speaking to the media, the collective on Tuesday stated that many were unable to perform the pilgrimage due to cancellations from October 12. In many cases, return journeys too have been uncertain, and urged that airlines make refunds at the earliest. Despite assurances, several were yet to receive refunds, they added.

The organisers stated their intentions of submitting representations to Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohammed Azharuddin and Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi with an appeal to take the matter to the airlines.