45 Indian Umrah pilgrims killed in Saudi bus inferno
Vehicle carrying pilgrims from Makkah to Madinah bursts into flames after collision with fuel tanker, leaving only one survivor
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A devastating road accident near the holy city of Madinah killed 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims late Sunday, after their bus collided with a diesel tanker and ignited into a firestorm that left only one survivor, officials said.
Most victims were from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, turning an overnight spiritual journey into one of the deadliest tragedies abroad involving Indian citizens in recent years.
The pilgrims had completed their Umrah rituals in Makkah and were travelling towards Madinah when the crash occurred at roughly 11:00 p.m. local time. The impact triggered a massive blaze, reducing the bus to a charred shell within minutes.
Rescue teams from Saudi Civil Defence described the scene as “extremely difficult,” with bodies burned beyond recognition, complicating identification.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said 54 pilgrims travelled to Saudi Arabia on November 9, though some stayed behind or used separate transport. Forty-six were aboard the ill-fated bus — and only one person survived.
Indian Embassy teams from Riyadh and Jeddah, along with local police and the Umrah agency, reached the site before dawn to assist in recovery work and coordinate with Saudi authorities.
In Hyderabad, dozens of families spent the night calling travel agents, community groups, and government offices, desperate for news. Many said they last spoke to their relatives hours before the crash, unaware it would be their final call.
As the scale of the tragedy became clear, Indian national and state authorities activated emergency diplomatic channels. Officials said missions in Riyadh and Jeddah were instructed to prioritize hospital coordination, victim identification, and direct communication with families in India.
Senior leaders across the political spectrum issued statements acknowledging the gravity of the disaster and pledged support.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened by the accident in Medinah involving Indian nationals,” adding that Indian missions were “providing all possible assistance” while coordinating closely with Saudi authorities.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called the incident “deeply shocking” and said the government was extending its “fullest support” to families and ensuring that help reaches the survivor.
In Telangana, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said many of the victims “may be from Hyderabad” and directed top state officials to work with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy so that “immediate help can be provided wherever needed.”
Hyderabad Parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi said he contacted two local travel agencies and shared passenger lists with the Indian Embassy. He also spoke with Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh, who told him authorities were gathering updates from Saudi hospitals and police and would relay information soon.
The tragedy has renewed attention on the safety of long-distance pilgrim transport in the Kingdom, especially during peak Umrah and Hajj seasons when thousands of chartered buses operate overnight across desert highways.
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