Saudi Arabia bus crash: 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims feared dead in tanker collision

A spiritual journey turned tragic early Monday when a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims from Makkah to Madinah collided with a diesel tanker, triggering a massive fire, media reports say.

At least 42 people are feared dead, with initial reports indicating many passengers were women and children from Hyderabad. Unofficial sources suggest 11 women and 10 children may be among the victims, though authorities are still verifying the numbers.

Following the accident, the Consulate of India in Jeddah has announced the setup of a 24x7 control room. Families and concerned parties can reach the helpline at the toll-free number 8002440003.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the bus accident. He said that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing full support to the affected nationals and their families. Jaishankar offered his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

The Telangana government has confirmed it is coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, while Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials in New Delhi to work closely with embassy authorities.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said 42 Umrah pilgrims were on the bus when it caught fire. He added that he is in touch with Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who assured him that information about the accident is being gathered.

Owaisi also urged the central government to ensure the bodies are brought back to India and that proper medical care is provided to the injured.

The accident occurred around 1:30 am IST near Muhras/Mufrihat, roughly 160 km from Madinah. Many passengers were reportedly asleep at the time, leaving them little chance to escape when the bus burst into flames after the collision.

Rescue teams described the scene as devastating, with the bus completely gutted, making victim identification extremely challenging. One person is believed to have survived, though their condition is unknown.

Saudi Civil Defence and police rushed to the site, while Indian officials and Umrah agency representatives reached the scene to assist in recovery efforts and coordinate information for families back home.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the incident, noting that some victims may be from Hyderabad. He has instructed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to collect full details, determine how many Telangana residents were affected, and liaise with the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.

He also emphasised the need for immediate relief measures if required.

A control room has been set up at the Telangana Secretariat to assist families of the victims.

Control room numbers: +91 79979 59754, +91 99129 19545.

Relatives of the pilgrims in Hyderabad are waiting anxiously for updates, contacting travel operators and authorities in hopes of receiving news.

What began as a sacred pilgrimage has turned into heartbreaking uncertainty for many families.