VOIWORLD
A late-night pilgrimage journey turned into a devastating tragedy early Monday when a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker near Medina, leaving at least 42 people feared dead. Local media reports in Saudi Arabia indicate that a significant number of the victims are believed to be Indian nationals, many of them from Telangana.
The bus, which was travelling from Makkah to Madina, met with the accident around 1.30 am IST near the Mufrihat area. According to reports in the Khaleej Times, most passengers onboard were from Hyderabad and had booked their pilgrimage through local travel agencies.
The impact of the collision was so severe that the bus caught fire almost immediately. A Gulf News report stated that many passengers were asleep when the vehicle rammed into the tanker, leaving them with little time to react or escape as flames engulfed the cabin. Among the victims, at least 11 women and 10 children are believed to have died, although Saudi authorities are still in the process of formally verifying the numbers.
News of the accident has sent shockwaves across Telangana, where entire neighbourhoods are anxiously trying to confirm the safety of their relatives. The state government quickly reached out to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, seeking urgent updates and assistance.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed senior officials in New Delhi to coordinate closely with embassy authorities to establish the identities of the deceased and injured. Meanwhile, the state’s Resident Commissioner has been tasked with collecting detailed information about the Telangana pilgrims involved in the tragedy.
A control room has been set up at the Telangana Secretariat, alongside two helpline numbers — +91 7997959754 and +91 9912919545 — to assist relatives searching for information.
The Indian Embassy in Jeddah has initiated round-the-clock support operations. A dedicated toll-free helpline — 8002440003 — has been activated to assist families of the pilgrims. Embassy officials in Riyadh and Jeddah are coordinating with Saudi authorities for identification of the victims, medical support for the injured, and repatriation arrangements where required.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, confirming that 42 Umrah pilgrims were on the bus when the fire broke out. He said he had spoken with Abu Mathen George, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who assured him that efforts were underway to gather accurate information from Saudi authorities.
According to preliminary reports, around 16 pilgrims associated with two Hyderabad-based agencies — Al-Meena Hajj and Umrah Travels — are believed to be among those killed. Owaisi urged the central government to ensure the immediate repatriation of bodies and provide adequate medical care to survivors.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, reacted to the tragedy on social media, saying he was “deeply shocked” by the accident involving Indian nationals in Medina.
“Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident,” he posted on X. “Sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
