Some 10,000 Indians in Saudi Arabia have been battling hunger for the past few days after their employers refused to pay them wages, in some cases for up to seven months...Many others were laid off and don’t have enough money to travel back to India...the...administration has mobilised expatriate Indians in Saudi Arabia to deliver food, India is also reportedly considering airlifting such stranded persons this week. The government has also held talks with the Saudi authorities to ensure payment of pending salaries.

The Indian consulate in...Jeddah has already collected details of 2,500 Indians working in various labour camps ahead of a visit by VK Singh, India’s junior minister for external affairs sent to repatriate the labourers. The government is hoping that as word of the evacuation spreads, more Indians will provide their details so as to arrange for their exit visas.