Amid heightened regional tensions, India has advised its citizens living in Saudi Arabia to exercise caution and follow safety instructions issued by local authorities.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh urged residents to move immediately to a safe indoor location, preferably away from windows, if an aerial attack occurs, and warned against filming, publishing or sharing photographs, videos or information related to ongoing incidents.

The Embassy said its officials continue to visit hospitals where injured Indian nationals are receiving treatment. Officials remain in regular contact with affected families and are providing all necessary assistance and support.

Air travel between India and Saudi Arabia remains significantly disrupted. Riyadh's international airport continues to face a suspension of flight operations, while airports in Dammam, Jeddah and Medina remain open, although services are still experiencing interruptions.

Indian airlines have extended the suspension of services to and from Saudi Arabia. Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo have halted operations on all routes until 24 October, while Akasa Air has suspended flights until 27 October.

Despite the restrictions, several alternative travel options remain available. Saudia continues to operate scheduled services between India and the Saudi cities of Dammam, Jeddah and Medina. Flynas is operating Dammam-Delhi and Dammam-Mumbai flights between 17 and 24 October and continues its Dammam-Lucknow service. Flyadeal has also operated Dammam-Mumbai flights on selected dates.

Indian nationals requiring urgent departure have been advised to consider transit routes through Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar, subject to obtaining the necessary visas. Travellers, including Umrah pilgrims, have also been warned to account for possible cancellations, delays and longer-than-planned stays because of continuing disruptions.

The advisory follows recent attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure, including Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, which caused casualties, injuries and widespread operational disruption. India has strongly condemned such attacks as unacceptable and reaffirmed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia while supporting the Kingdom's sovereign right to protect its territory and citizens.

Speaking during a media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian Embassy had maintained continuous engagement with the Indian community and issued timely safety advisories. He expressed hope that peace and normality would soon return to the region and noted that Saudi carriers continue to operate a number of flights between the two countries despite the disruption affecting Indian airlines.

Earlier embassy updates indicated that Indian nationals were among those affected by the attacks on Riyadh airport, with embassy teams monitoring their welfare closely. Dedicated control rooms have also been established to assist Indian citizens impacted by the evolving security and travel situation.

ANI