Supriya Sule Appeals for Government Support to Repatriate 41 Stranded Indians in Riyadh
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New Delhi, April 6 (NationPress) NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule has called upon the Indian government and the embassy in Saudi Arabia to urgently assist in repatriating 41 Indians from Bhokardan, Maharashtra, who are currently stranded in Riyadh following the cancellation of their flight to Mumbai.
As the NCP Working President and Lok Sabha MP representing Baramati, Sule highlighted the plight of these individuals who are left in Riyadh due to the abrupt cancellation of their Akasa Air flight. She further shared the names of all passengers involved.
“Currently, 41 Indian nationals from Bhokardan, Maharashtra, find themselves stranded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after their Akasa Air flight to Mumbai was unexpectedly cancelled,” Sule mentioned in a post on X, where she listed the names of the passengers.
She has also reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, requesting immediate support to facilitate their return to India.
In response, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed that they are working with Akasa Air to provide the necessary assistance for the passengers' return.
“We are in contact with Akasa Air, Madam. We will provide all necessary support,” the embassy stated.
This situation arose when Akasa Air announced a suspension of operations to Riyadh, Doha, and Kuwait until April 12, 2026, due to ongoing safety evaluations related to the situation in West Asia. The airline has offered a waiver on cancellation and rescheduling fees for the affected passengers.
The airline said in a statement, “Flights to and from Doha, Riyadh, and Kuwait are suspended until April 12, 2026. We are actively monitoring and assessing the situation regarding these destinations and will provide updates as necessary.”
Akasa Air also stated, “We have extended our cancellation/rescheduling fee waiver policy for passengers booked to or from these cities until April 12, 2026. Passengers can choose either a full refund, which will be credited to their original payment method within 7 days, or they may reschedule their travel without incurring any extra charges. For those who booked through travel partners, please reach out to them directly for assistance,” it added.