Dozens of Indian pilgrims are feared to have lost their lives following a collision between a bus and a diesel tanker near the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia on Monday, as confirmed by Indian officials.
The bus, carrying 46 passengers, was en route from Mecca to Medina when the tragic incident occurred on a highway, according to Gaurav Uppal, a senior official from Telangana state. Uppal, based in New Delhi, is actively involved in coordinating rescue operations with Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia.
Concerned relatives of the victims gathered outside the Fly Zone travel agency office in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, seeking updates on their loved ones. Mohammed Tehseen revealed that seven family members were on the bus, with only one surviving the accident and contacting them post-collision.
Despite a request for comment, Saudi officials have not yet responded to the situation.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Telangana’s top-elected official, Revanth Reddy, extended condolences to the grieving families. Jaishankar mentioned the support being provided by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah to assist the victims’ families.
Hyderabad’s police chief, Vishwanath Channappa Sajjanar, disclosed that initial reports indicate at least 18 deceased individuals were from the city, with the majority belonging to two families. He identified the injured survivor as Mohammed Shoaib, stating that out of the 46 people on the bus, only one survived with injuries. Sajjanar mentioned ongoing communication with the travel agency responsible for organizing the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.