After their bus struck a diesel tanker close to Madinah, Saudi Arabia, causing a huge fire, at least 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims perished. The tragic Indian Umrah pilgrims bus crash occurred in the early hours of November 17, turning a spiritual journey into a devastating loss for dozens of families.
With the intention of returning on November 23 after performing Umrah, the pilgrims had taken a plane from Hyderabad to Jeddah on November 9. The bus reportedly collided with a diesel tanker close to Mufrihat, about 160 kilometers from Madinah, while it was en route from Makkah to Madinah. There was only one survivor, who is presently undergoing medical treatment, after the collision caused a fire to spread throughout the car.
Women and children were among the dead, and at least 16 of the victims were identified as being from Hyderabad. Rescue crews arrived quickly, but identification was challenging due to the fire’s intensity. A round-the-clock helpline has been established by the Indian Consulate in Jeddah to support families and communicate with Saudi authorities.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both expressed their profound sadness over the incident. The Saudi Embassy and the Ministry of External Affairs are collaborating closely to support the families of the victims and expedite the repatriation procedure.
This accident is one of the deadliest involving Indian Umrah pilgrims in recent years. It has sparked calls for improved safety measures for religious travelers in the region, especially during long-distance road journeys between holy cities.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, and further details are expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, the lone survivor’s condition remains stable, and efforts are underway to provide psychological and medical support.
The image used in this post is AI-generated and intended for reference only.
Also read : Petroleum Prices Pakistan November 2025: Diesel Rises by Rs 6, Petrol Unchanged
