Dozens of Indian pilgrims are feared to have lost their lives in a tragic collision involving a bus and a diesel tanker near the sacred city of Medina in Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to Indian officials. The bus, carrying 46 passengers, was en route from Mecca to Medina when the accident occurred on a highway, as confirmed by Gaurav Uppal, a senior official from Telangana state. Uppal, who is based in New Delhi, is actively participating in coordinating rescue operations with Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia.
In the aftermath of the incident, anxious relatives of the victims gathered outside the premises of the Fly Zone travel agency in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, seeking updates on their loved ones. Mohammed Tehseen revealed that seven members of his family were on the bus, with all but one tragically losing their lives. The sole survivor, Mohammed Shoaib, contacted the family post-accident to convey the heartbreaking news.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, and Telangana’s top official, Revanth Reddy, extended their heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. Jaishankar mentioned in a social media post that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah are providing assistance to the affected families. Hyderabad’s Police Chief Vishwanath Channappa Sajjanar disclosed that initial reports indicate that at least 18 deceased individuals were from Hyderabad. Sajjanar also mentioned that most victims belonged to two families, emphasizing the critical condition of the lone survivor, Mohammed Shoaib.
During a press conference, Sajjanar stated that police are in communication with the travel agency responsible for organizing the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Despite attempts to reach out, Saudi officials have not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the tragic incident.