Forty-five Indian pilgrims have been killed after the bus they were travelling in caught fire in an accident near Medina in Saudi Arabia, as confirmed by the police commissioner of India's Hyderabad city. The bus had 46 passengers, and only one man survived the incident, who is currently being treated in an intensive care unit at a local hospital.
Most of the deceased were from Hyderabad, located in southern Telangana state. They were en route from the Islamic holy city of Mecca to Medina at the time of the accident, as stated in a press release from the Telangana government.
The pilgrims had traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, a significant spiritual journey for Muslims that occurs throughout the year, unlike Hajj which has specific dates.
According to Mr. Sajjanar, an oil tanker was involved in the accident, though detailed circumstances around the crash have yet to be disclosed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the tragedy on a social media platform, asserting that Indian authorities are in close cooperation with their Saudi counterparts for support.
Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance, Modi stated, emphasizing the establishment of control rooms in both Jeddah and Hyderabad to facilitate communications for the victims' families.
Asaduddin Owaisi, a member of parliament representing Hyderabad, has requested the federal government to help in the repatriation of the deceased's bodies back to India.
Out of the 54 individuals who had traveled from Hyderabad to Jeddah on November 9, four remained in Mecca while another four opted to drive to Medina, leaving 46 people to board the ill-fated bus.
The news has brought devastation to many, with relatives of the victims expressing their grief. Mohammed Tehseen, a local resident, revealed that seven of his family members were on the bus. He learned about the situation from a relative who survived the accident and is still hospitalized.
