Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar expressed profound grief
Bus-Tanker Collision Near Medina Leaves 45 Indian Pilgrims Dead, Telangana Government Announces ₹5 Lakh Ex-Gratia and Funeral Assistance
MEDINA, SAUDI ARABIA: A horrific road accident near the holy city of Medina has claimed the lives of 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims, most of whom hailed from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana. The tragedy, which occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, saw the pilgrim bus collide with a diesel tanker, igniting a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle and left only a single survivor.
The accident took place around 1:30 am IST near Mufrihat, approximately 25 kilometers from Medina, as the bus was traveling from Mecca, where the group had completed their Umrah rituals. Preliminary reports from local authorities indicate that the collision with the tanker instantly sparked an inferno, trapping the sleeping passengers inside.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar confirmed the staggering death toll, stating that the bus carried 46 passengers. “Forty-five people have died, and there is only one survivor who is currently in the hospital,” he confirmed, adding that a total of 54 individuals had traveled from Hyderabad on November 9, with eight of them choosing alternative transport or staying back in Mecca. The sole survivor is reportedly receiving critical medical attention.
The news has sent shockwaves through the city of Hyderabad, where families were awaiting the return of their loved ones on November 23. Relatives, some of whom lost up to 18 members across three generations in a single night, have gathered at the Hajj House in Nampally, desperately seeking official confirmation and assistance.
“I told them not to go together. Not to take all the children; at least some members of the family would have survived,” a grief-stricken relative from Ramnagar told reporters, illustrating the depth of the tragedy that has wiped out entire families.
Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar expressed profound grief and assured full support from the government. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah have been activated to coordinate relief and identification efforts.
The Telangana government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased pilgrim. Furthermore, the state cabinet has decided that the last rites will be performed in Saudi Arabia in accordance with religious customs. The government will arrange for two family members of each victim to travel to Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral proceedings.
To assist the bereaved families, the Indian Consulate and the Telangana government have set up emergency helplines:
Agency Helpline Number, Consulate General of India, Jeddah 8002440003 (Toll-free)
Telangana Secretariat Control Room +91 79979 59754, +91 99129 19545
The Telangana Minorities Welfare Minister, Mohammad Azharuddin, confirmed that a state team would be heading to Saudi Arabia to coordinate the on-ground arrangements.
