Segun Atanda/
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed deep sorrow following a horrific accident in Medina, Saudi Arabia, involving a bus carrying Indian pilgrims.
In a post on X, he offered his “thoughts … with the families who have lost their loved ones” and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured, noting that India’s Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance.
According to multiple reports, the tragedy occurred in the early hours of Monday, when a bus transporting at least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims, many from Hyderabad, Telangana, collided with a diesel tanker on its way from Mecca to Medina.
Eyewitness and media accounts say the crash happened around 1.30am local time in an area identified as Mufrihat, roughly 160 km from Medina.
Many of the pilgrims were reportedly asleep at the time, leaving them little chance to escape when the bus burst into flames after impact.
Rescue teams described a chilling scene. The bus was “completely gutted,” making identification of victims difficult. Tragically, all but one of the passengers are feared dead.
The sole survivor has been identified as Mohd Abdul Shoiab, a young man from Hyderabad, who was reportedly sitting near the driver.
He has been hospitalised, though his precise condition has not been publicly confirmed.
Indian authorities have mounted a rapid response. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah activated a 24‑hour control room, and several helpline numbers have been issued.
At the same time, the government of Telangana has established a control room in its Secretariat for the relatives of the pilgrims.
The Chief Minister, A. Revanth Reddy, has directed officials to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to verify passenger lists, confirm casualties, and support families.
Additional reports suggest that among those feared dead may be 11 women and 10 children, although exact numbers are still being confirmed.
The Indian government has also pledged close coordination with Saudi authorities, including the local civil defence and police, to manage rescue, recovery, and consular support.
Prime Minister Modi’s statement on X reiterated the nation’s grief and resolve. “We are with all affected families at this difficult time,” he wrote, while emphasising the government’s commitment to aiding recovery efforts.
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