Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
Riyadh, Oct 18: The Indian Embassy in Riyadh on Sunday urged Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to follow updated safety instructions issued by Saudi authorities for people receiving emergency alerts through the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies amid heightened security concerns.
The advisory asks people to remain calm and follow official directions when an emergency warning is received. They have been advised to immediately move to the nearest safe place inside a building, preferably an interior room away from windows, and remain there until the danger has passed.
People have been urged not to leave their homes or buildings during an alert, stay away from open areas, windows and glass, and avoid balconies and rooftops. Those outdoors should enter the nearest building or take shelter behind a solid barrier.
The instructions also advise people to avoid crowds and dangerous areas and refrain from taking photographs. Those who receive an alert while driving should pull over safely to the side of the road, away from bridges and high-rise buildings.
For emergencies, people can call 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, while 998 is the emergency number for other parts of Saudi Arabia. Indian nationals have also been asked to follow instructions issued by the competent authorities through official channels.
The advisory comes amid heightened security concerns following reported drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia. A strike at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 10 reportedly killed an Indian national and injured several others.
Following the incident, the Indian Embassy had urged its 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 developments.
The embassy has reiterated the importance of prioritising personal safety and complying with official emergency instructions.