A journey of faith turned into a tragedy early Monday when a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims from Makkah to Madinah crashed into a diesel tanker, causing a massive fire. Media reports say that at least 42 people are feared dead. According to ANI, many of the passengers were women and children from Hyderabad, though officials are still confirming the exact numbers. Unofficial estimates suggest that 11 women and 10 children could be among those who died.
The crash took place around 1:30 am IST near Muhras, about 160 kilometres from Madinah. Most of the passengers were believed to be asleep when the bus hit the tanker and burst into flames, giving them almost no chance to escape. The only known survivor was pulled out from the wreckage, but authorities have not yet shared details about their condition.
Rescue workers described the site as extremely difficult to handle. The fire completely destroyed the bus, and officers said identifying the victims will take time because the bodies were severely burnt.
Saudi Civil Defence and local police reached the spot soon after the accident. Indian Embassy officials and representatives of the Umrah agency also went to the site to help with recovery work and gather information for families in India.
In Hyderabad, families of the pilgrims spent the day waiting for updates, calling travel agents and government offices to find out whether their relatives were safe. What began as a spiritual trip has left many families in deep anxiety and grief.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said he was shocked by the news. He noted that several of the victims “may be from Hyderabad” and directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to collect full details. He asked officials to coordinate with the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy, saying that “immediate help must be provided wherever needed.”
The Telangana government has opened a control room at the state secretariat to assist worried families and provide official information as soon as it becomes available.
