India, Oct. 23 -- Around 4,000 Indian pilgrims are stranded in the Saudi Arabian holy cities of Makkah and Madina after airlines cancelled flights following attacks on airport infrastructure in the kingdom, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Thursday.

"Four thousand pilgrims from India are stuck in Makkah and Madina. They flew via IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India but are now stuck there since these airlines have cancelled their flights," Owaisi said in a post on X.

Owaisi urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to allow airlines to operate larger aircraft to accommodate the stranded passengers, or to arrange special flights if regular services could not be restored. "The Indian pilgrims have been abandoned by their travel agent...