At least 42 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad, India, are feared to have died after the bus they were travelling in from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker and caught fire near Mufrihat village in Saudi Arabia on Monday, authorities said.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene, and local authorities are working to verify the exact number of casualties and identify the victims.
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah said on X that a 24×7 control room has been set up at the Consulate General of India to assist those affected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, stating on X: “Deeply saddened by the accident in Medinah involving Indian nationals. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance.”
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also expressed his condolences, saying he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the tragedy and that officials are in touch with the Embassy to provide support to victims’ families.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy conveyed his sorrow over the deaths. The Telangana Chief Minister’s Office said a special control room has been set up at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and verify details of pilgrims from Telangana affected by the crash.
Authorities continue to gather information and provide assistance to the victims and their families.
The contact details of the Helpline are as under: 8002440003 (Toll free) 0122614093 0126614276 0556122301 (WhatsApp)
