At least 45 Indian pilgrims died after their bus collided with a diesel tanker near the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, police said. The crash occurred in the early hours of Monday at around 1:30am near Mufrihat, about 160km from Medina. Many passengers were asleep when the bus hit the tanker and burst into flames.
The only survivor is receiving treatment at a hospital, according to VC Sajjanar, a senior police official in Hyderabad, India. All the pilgrims were from Hyderabad in the state of Telangana. The batch of 54 Umrah pilgrims left for Mecca on 9 November; four went to Medina by car, 46 boarded the bus, and four stayed in Mecca.
Rescue teams said the bodies were completely charred, making identification difficult. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has set up a 24/7 control room for families, with a toll-free helpline at 8002440003. A control room has also been established by the Telangana Bhawan in New Delhi to coordinate operations and assist families.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness over the accident, offering prayers for the injured and assuring full assistance from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said he was shocked and is in contact with the embassy.
Family members in Hyderabad expressed shock and grief, with one resident saying his entire family died in the accident. Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi urged the government to expedite the return of bodies and assist the injured. The incident comes as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman travels to the US for talks with President Donald Trump.
