Bahrain embassy sets up Saudi transit visa to repatriate Indians; Here’s what you need to know
Manama: The Indian Embassy in Bahrain has announced that transit visa arrangements have been made through Saudi Arabia to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in Bahrain due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
According to a statement issued by the embassy, priority will be given to individuals on tourist or short-term visas.
Vinod K Jacob, Indian Ambassador to Bahrain, stated that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh will obtain individual transit visas from the Saudi government upon request. The Indian Embassy in Bahrain will submit the necessary transit visa requests to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for transit visas via Saudi Arabia has been issued, which are as follows
Passengers intending to travel to India must hold a confirmed air ticket.
It has been advised that a formal note issued by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh should be presented to Saudi immigration officials at the checkpoint before entering Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi transit visa is valid for 72 to 96 hours. Passengers are required to leave Saudi Arabia for India within this period. It has also been advised that travelers should reach the Saudi checkpoint during daylight hours.
The Embassy has urged all Indian nationals in Bahrain to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions in view of the current regional situation. They are requested to follow the instructions issued by local authorities and the Embassy.
The Indian Embassy in Bahrain continues to operate as usual, with a 24×7 helpline available for urgent assistance. For immediate support, citizens can contact +973 39418071 or +973 38400433.
Indians wishing to avail of the transit visa facility can submit their requests along with personal details, including visa and passport information, to the email address wel2.bahrain@mea.gov.in, the Embassy said.
Advisory 👇@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @diaspora_india pic.twitter.com/JyjHYxmluP
— India in Bahrain (@IndiaInBahrain) March 9, 2026
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Bengaluru hotels face shutdown from March 10 due to commercial LPG supply crisis
Bengaluru (PTI): Hotel and restaurant operations in the city are likely to be affected starting March 10, following a sudden and total halt in the supply of commercial gas cylinders, the Bangalore Hotels Association said on Monday.
This development comes amid rising energy costs and supply constraints caused by the West Asia conflict.
"Since the gas supply has stopped, the hotels will be closed from tomorrow," the association said in a release.
Noting that the supply of commercial gas cylinders stopped today, it said, since the hotel industry is an essential service, common people, students, and medical professionals, who rely on the hotels for daily meals, will be affected.
"In addition, our hotel industry will also face difficulties until the gas supply returns to normal," it added.
The association said oil companies had guaranteed an uninterrupted gas supply for 70 days, making the sudden stoppage a "big blow" to the hotel industry.
"Therefore, we expect the concerned Union Ministers to take appropriate action immediately in this matter and resume commercial gas supply and provide cooperation to the hotel industry," it added.
Speaking to reporters, P C Rao, Honorary President of the Bangalore Hotels Association, said hotel owners are unwilling to suspend operations for any reason, but the government's move has made it inevitable for most of them to shut down.
"Without gas, food and refreshments will not be available at the hotels starting tomorrow. Hotels will not open. We have spoken and have sent communications to central ministers. We have also brought the matter to their notice through some MPs from Bengaluru. Without gas, it will not be possible to prepare food, so the government should respond immediately. Let them (government) cut (supplies) to an extent, if required. We too are aware of the situation and know the reasons," he added.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed concerns over the supply chain disruption, saying the rising LPG prices is a separate issue.
The central government increased the price of LPG cylinders for commercial use by Rs 115 and for domestic use by Rs 60, he said, adding that "everyone is of the opinion that this is a lot. What they are doing is not right."
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