A bus carrying Indian pilgrims caught fire near Medina in western Saudi Arabia, killing 45 passengers and leaving one man critically injured, Indian officials confirmed. The vehicle was traveling from Mecca to Medina when the accident occurred.
According to Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, the bus was carrying 46 people, most of them residents of Hyderabad in the southern Indian state of Telangana. The lone survivor has been admitted to an intensive care unit at a local hospital.
The group had traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, a shorter and non-mandatory version of the annual Hajj. Telangana officials said 54 pilgrims had departed Hyderabad for Jeddah on November 9, though several later took different routes, leaving 46 on the bus at the time of the accident.
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Authorities said an oil tanker was also involved in the crash, though investigations are ongoing and further details have not yet been released.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences in a statement posted to X, saying he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and that Indian officials were coordinating with Saudi authorities.
“Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance,” he wrote.
Both India and Saudi Arabia have activated control rooms in Hyderabad and Jeddah to assist families of the victims and coordinate the repatriation process.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi told the ANI news agency that he had appealed to the central government for expedited arrangements to bring the bodies home.
As the scale of the tragedy became clear, distressed family members in Hyderabad began speaking publicly.
Mohammed Tehseen, a resident of the city, told ANI that seven of his relatives were on the bus. He said he learned of the crash through a phone call from Shoaib, a relative who survived and is currently hospitalized.
Local officials in Telangana say they are in close contact with the Indian mission in Saudi Arabia and will support the return of the victims’ remains once formalities are completed.
Saudi authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, while Indian diplomats work to identify the deceased and arrange transportation for the bodies. Repatriation is expected to occur after necessary documentation and forensic procedures are completed.