India issues advisory after Houthis attack; Air India Express cancels Riyadh flights

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh urged Indian nationals in the kingdom to remain alert and vigilant, stay indoors when necessary and follow instructions issued by Saudi authorities through official channels.The situation around Saudi Arabia's capital has prompted India to issue a fresh advisory to its nationals. Air India Express has also suspended flights to and from Riyadh until October 10 after a Houthi-claimed ballistic missile attack disrupted operations at King Khalid International Airport.The Indian Embassy in Riyadh urged Indian nationals in the kingdom to remain alert and vigilant, stay indoors when necessary and follow instructions issued by Saudi authorities through official channels.The advisory came hours after loud booms were heard across Riyadh and smoke was reported rising from a stationary aircraft at the airport following the claimed Houthi missile strike.INDIA URGES NATIONALS TO STAY ALERTIn its advisory, the Embassy of India in Riyadh asked Indian nationals to exercise caution as the situation develops. "Indian nationals are strongly advised to refrain from circulating or reposting any videos or news related to the ongoing events," the embassy said.The embassy, along with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, said its operations were continuing normally. Its outsourced services through VFS were also functioning as usual, with further updates to be issued if required. Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia were also advised to follow the embassy's official social media channels for verified information and further instructions.AIR INDIA EXPRESS CANCELS RIYADH FLIGHTS The disruption has also spilled into commercial aviation. Air India Express said it had cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, citing the evolving situation in the region."In view of the evolving situation in the region, we have cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until 10 October. Affected guests are being offered complimentary rescheduling or a full refund on cancellation. We continue to monitor the situation closely," an Air India Express spokesperson told DD News.The cancellation means passengers travelling between India and Riyadh could face further disruption as airlines assess the security situation around King Khalid International Airport. The airline said affected passengers would be given the option to reschedule their journeys without additional charges or seek a full refund.This is a developing story. It will be updated.- Ends