A tragic road accident near Medina involving a bus of Indian Umrah pilgrims and a diesel tanker has left around 42 pilgrims feared dead, many from Hyderabad, as rescue and identification efforts begin.
Early on Monday morning, a bus carrying Indian pilgrims traveling from Mecca to Madinah collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat, approximately 160 km from Medina, around 1:30 am IST, according to reports.
Witnesses say many passengers were asleep when the impact occurred, and the bus quickly caught fire, leaving the vehicle completely charred.
Officials believe many of the victims hailed from Hyderabad and Telangana. Unofficial sources suggest that among the deceased could be 11 women and 10 children.
Rescue teams from Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence and police arrived at the scene, but the intensity of the blaze made identifying bodies challenging. One person is believed to have survived the crash.
In response, Indian authorities have mobilized to assist affected families. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has set up a 24/7 control room. The toll-free helpline number is 8002440003, with additional numbers also provided.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his shock and directed state officials—including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police—to swiftly gather information on how many pilgrims from the state were on the bus and to coordinate with India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar expressed deep anguish on social media, stating that both the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing full support to victims’ families.
As the process of rescue, recovery, and identification continues, families await updates. The tragic incident has cast a pall over the pilgrimage community, turning a spiritual journey into a deva
stating loss.
