Saudi Arabia bus crash: Who are the Indians among the dead? Check list and other details here

At least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims are feared dead after a tragic collision between a passenger bus and a diesel tanker on the Mecca–Medina highway in Saudi Arabia early Monday. The crash, which occurred around 1.30 a.m., caused the bus to catch fire while many passengers were asleep, leaving little time for escape. The intense flames have made the process of identifying victims extremely difficult.

Preliminary reports suggest that several of those killed were Indian nationals travelling for the pilgrimage. Families across different states have begun to receive confirmation of deaths, while Indian authorities in Riyadh and Jeddah work closely with Saudi officials to verify the total number of Indian casualties.

The following Indian nationals have so far been identified among the victims:

Abdul Mohammed

Mohammed Moulana

Abdul Mohammed

Sohail Mohammed

Mastan Mohammed

Parveen Begum

Zakiya Begum

Shoukat Begum

Farheen Begum

Zaheen Begum

Mohammed Manzoor

Mohammed Ali

Ghousiya Begum

Relatives of the missing said that many passengers were part of small groups performing Umrah and that several belonged to the same extended families. The tragedy has deeply affected close-knit communities, particularly in southern India, where many of the victims hailed from.

Senior government officials in India have taken urgent note of the incident. They are in contact with the Consulate General of India in Jeddah and the Deputy Ambassador in Riyadh to obtain a detailed list of victims and survivors. Instructions have been issued to the Resident Commissioner and the Coordination Secretary in New Delhi to remain in close touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Their immediate task is to verify information, assist families, and coordinate possible support from the Centre, including identification procedures and the repatriation of remains.

The MEA is expected to release an official statement once Saudi authorities confirm all details. Families across India continue to wait anxiously for updates, hoping for clarity as rescue and identification work continues on site.

In Telangana, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials to set up a control room at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to help families affected by the tragedy. Senior officials at Telangana Bhavan are coordinating directly with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to gather information about the passengers from Telangana who may have been on board the bus.

Control Room Contact Numbers at Telangana Bhavan, New Delhi:

Smt. Vandhana, PS to Resident Commissioner & Liaison Head: +91 98719 99044

Sri CH. Chakravarthi, Public Relations Officer: +91 99583 22143

Sri Rakshith Naik, Liaison Officer: +91 96437 23157

Efforts are underway to establish the full details of the accident and ensure that assistance reaches every affected family.