'Don't stand on roof, balconies': India urges nationals in Saudi amid Houthi strikes

The Indian embassy in Riyadh on Sunday urged Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to follow updated emergency safety instructions issued by Saudi authorities amid heightened security concerns following strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

People have been told not to leave their homes or buildings until the threat subsides, stay away from open areas, windows and glass, and avoid standing on balconies or rooftops.

The guidelines advise people to remain calm and immediately move to the nearest safe place inside a building, preferably an interior room away from windows, until the danger has passed. Those outdoors have been advised to enter the nearest building or take shelter behind a solid barrier.

The instructions also urge people to avoid crowds and dangerous areas and refrain from taking photographs. Those who receive an alert while driving have been asked to pull over to the side of the road, away from bridges and high-rise buildings.

In case of any threat or danger, people can call 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 998 in the rest of Saudi Arabia, the instructions state. They have also been asked to follow directions issued by competent authorities through official channels.

The advisory comes amid heightened security concerns following drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia, including a deadly strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 10. The attack killed an Indian national and injured several others, prompting the Embassy to reiterate its safety advisory.

Following the October 10 strike, the Embassy had urged Indian nationals to follow local authorities' instructions, remain indoors during aerial attacks and refrain from filming, publishing or sharing information, photographs or videos related to the ongoing events.