About 500 Haj pilgrims from Mangaluru have returned safely through Qatar after flight disruptions in Saudi Arabia, the Dakshina Kannada Haj and Umrah Private Tour Organisers' Association said.
Many Karnataka families have relatives on Haj or Umrah trips, and some return flights landed in Bengaluru and Calicut, affecting local travel plans. The episode also shows how sudden airport closures strand travellers and inflate fares.
Track stranded relatives by calling the Karnataka State Haj Department emergency operation centre.