JEDDAH: At least 42 people lost their lives when a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia. The accident occurred while the bus was traveling from Mecca to Medina. Among the deceased, 16 were reported to be from Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state, India.
Arab media reports indicate that most passengers were asleep at the time of the crash, and a fire that broke out in the bus after the collision left little chance for escape. The bus was carrying 43 people, including 20 women and 11 children.
Indian media further reported that one passenger, identified as Mohammad Abdulshaib, survived and has been hospitalized for treatment. Rescue teams described the scene as horrific, noting that the bus was completely burned, making identification of the victims extremely difficult.
In response, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah has set up a helpline to assist the victims’ families. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from Hyderabad travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, with several travel agencies offering seven-day packages starting at 55,000 rupees per person, covering visits to Mecca and Medina along with some sightseeing.
Following the incident, distraught relatives have been contacting travel agencies since Monday morning in search of any information about their loved ones.
