Tragic Saudi Arabia Bus Accident: 45 Indian Umrah Pilgrims Killed in Mecca-Medina Collision

A horrific bus accident in Saudi Arabia has claimed the lives of at least 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims.

New Delhi:

A man, reportedly from Hyderabad, witnessed the Saudi Arabia bus crash and promptly informed people back home, urging them to check on their family members traveling to Medina. The tragic incident occurred when a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker around 1:30 am (IST) near Mufrihat. Reports indicate that at least 45 people are feared dead.

In a video that has gone viral, supposedly recorded near the crash site, a man can be heard describing the devastating event to someone on a phone call.

The call begins with customary greetings before the caller explains the tragedy he has just witnessed.

"Information dena ye hai ke, Mecca se Medina ko bus aa rahi thi bhai... Wo bus poori jal gayi. Usme se ek aadmi, ek driver bach gaya bhai. Munawwar bol ke naam bata raha. Hyderabad ke log hai usme. (I want to inform you that a bus traveling from Mecca to Medina has caught fire. Only one man, a driver, survived. He is identifying himself as Munawwar. People from Hyderabad were on board)," the caller states.

"Agar koi bhi hai, apne gharo ko maloom kar lo bhai thoda. Me bhi abhi abhi bus ko dekha. Me takleef bardasht nahi ho rahi bhai. Me video nikala. Ek aadmi merko number diya. Me phone kar ke logo ko itelah kar raha hu. (Please check with your families. I just saw the bus. I can't bear the pain. I recorded the accident on camera. A man gave me a number, and I am calling people to inform them)," he continues.

The caller concludes by saying that informing others is all he could do in this situation.

The tragic bus accident in Saudi Arabia has claimed the lives of at least 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims, many reportedly from Hyderabad. Approximately 16 pilgrims were traveling through two Hyderabad-based agencies - Al-Meena Hajj and Umrah Travels.

Mohammad Abdul Shoeb is reportedly the sole survivor of the bus crash and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed his shock regarding the bus accident and assured that the Indian embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing complete support.

"Deeply shocked at the accident involving Indian nationals in Medinah, Saudi Arabia. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident," Jaishankar wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

"Sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," he added.

A control room has been established at Telangana Bhavan, New Delhi, and efforts are ongoing to gather complete details of the accident and confirm how many individuals from Telangana were involved.

The Consulate General of India in Jeddah described it as a "tragic" bus accident and has set up a 24x7 control room at 8002440003.