A major tragedy struck Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia early Monday, November 17, when their bus collided with a diesel tanker on the Mecca–Medina highway. The accident left about 45 people feared dead, with many victims reported to be from Telangana.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy have expressed deep sorrow over the horrific incident. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has set up a 24-hour control room to assist the victims’ families and coordinate with Saudi authorities.
What happened
According to official sources cited by The Hindu, the bus carrying 46 Indian Umrah pilgrims caught fire after colliding with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat, Saudi Arabia. The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. IST when the bus was travelling from Mecca to Medina.
Reports from Hindustan Times suggest that at least 16 of the Indian pilgrims feared dead were from Hyderabad. The collision triggered a massive fire while many passengers were asleep, leaving them with little time to escape.
Emergency teams and local authorities quickly arrived at the scene to conduct rescue and relief operations. Unofficial sources told Gulf News that 11 women and 10 children may be among the casualties, though Saudi officials are still verifying these figures.
According to News18, some of the identified Indian victims include Abdul Mohammed, Mohammed Moulana, Sohail Mohammed, Mastan Mohammed, Parveen Begum, Zakiya Begum, Shoukat Begum, Farheen Begum, Zaheen Begum, Mohammed Manzoor, Mohammed Ali, and Ghousiya Begum.
One survivor, Mohammad Abdul Shoeb, 24, reportedly escaped the flames. He was sitting near the driver’s seat when the accident occurred and is now undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
A video circulating on social media, reportedly filmed near the crash site, shows a man describing the scene on a phone call.
“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,” the caller is heard saying, as reported by NDTV.
“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,” he adds.
Hundreds of pilgrims from Hyderabad travel to Saudi Arabia every year to perform Umrah. Travel agencies offer packages starting from ₹55,000 for a seven-day trip that includes visits to Mecca, Medina and other sites, according to The Indian Express.
Indian consulate sets up control room
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has set up a 24/7 control room to assist affected families.
Helpline numbers:
“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. Our officials are also in close contact with Saudi Arabian authorities,” he posted on X.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also assured full support to the victims’ families.
“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,” he wrote on X.
“Sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he added.
Officials in New Delhi have instructed the Resident Commissioner and Coordination Secretary to maintain constant communication with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and ensure that all necessary assistance is extended.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.
“The accident took place while the bus was travelling from Mecca to Medina, and some of the pilgrims are from Hyderabad,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Reddy announced that a control room has also been set up at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
Hyderabad MLA Mohammad Majid Hussain said he is personally in touch with the bereaved families and senior officials.
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi urged the government to bring the victims’ remains home.
“I request the Union Government, especially EAM S. Jaishankar, to bring the bodies back to India and, if anyone is injured, ensure that they receive proper medical treatment,” Owaisi told ANI.
He said he had spoken with Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, and shared passenger details with officials.
BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) appealed to the Telangana government to ensure the injured receive immediate treatment. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condoled the deaths and asked the Centre to “closely coordinate” with the state authorities.
“Deeply saddened by the heart-wrenching tragedy near Medinah, Saudi Arabia involving several Indian nationals. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured,” Kharge wrote on X.
“The Union Government, through the @MEAIndia should closely coordinate with state authorities and the families of the victims here in India to provide succour and relief, in this difficult time,” he added.
Families await word from Saudi Arabia
Back home, relatives of the victims are in distress as they await official confirmation.
“A batch of 45-46 members went to Saudi Arabia from Hyderabad… The bus carrying them caught fire and as soon as we received information we contacted Al Makkah Tours & Travels,” a victim’s family member told ANI.
“We urge the government to allow us to go to Saudi Arabia. Seven members of my family went to Saudi Arabia…” the person added.
Several families rushed to the Hyderabad office of Al Makkah Tours & Travels after hearing of the incident. Many victims belonged to the same extended families or close community groups.
Authorities in Riyadh and Jeddah are continuing identification efforts and coordinating with Indian officials to confirm the final death toll and begin the repatriation process.
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