India in touch with Saudi Arabia over Indians in Najran

India on Wednesday said it is in touch with Saudi Arabia where over 100 Indians were caught in the crossfire in the Saudi town of Najran, bordering Yemen.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted: "With reference to the situation in Najran, our consulate in Jeddah is in close touch with Saudi authorities and Indian Community."

He said consulate officials Mohammad Javed Alam (0532894074) and Mohammad Faisal (0507745466) were stationed in Najran and were advising Indian nationals. The Indian nationals had appealed to the government for speedy evacuation following intensified fighting between Houthi rebels and Saudi-led coalition forces.

Situated in the southwest of Saudi Arabia, the city of Najran was shelled early this week by Yemen's Houthi militants.

Several hospitals and business establishments and military installations are located in Najran and its surrounding areas, where hundreds of citizens of countries like India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Bangladesh work.

India had carried out a massive evacuation of its thousands of citizens from violence-hit Yemen earlier.