Hyderabad pilgrims among several killed in Saudi Arabia bus accident
HYDERABAD: A bus carrying 43 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad collided with a diesel tanker on the Mecca-Medina highway early Monday, resulting in a fire that killed 42 people. Among the deceased were 20 women and 11 children. Only one passenger survived.
The group had completed its rituals in Mecca and was traveling to Medina. The pilgrimage was organized by tour operators based in Hyderabad. Authorities have launched a coordinated response to support the victims and their families.
The Indian government and the Telangana state administration have swung into action. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), through the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah, is leading the diplomatic and on-ground response. In an official press release, the Consulate in Jeddah expressed its “deepest condolences to the bereaved families” and established a 24/7 Control Room. The helpline numbers are 8002440003 (toll-free), 00966122614093, 00966126614276, and 00966556122301 (for WhatsApp).
Authorities confirmed that a team of Consulate staff and Indian community volunteers is currently on the ground at various hospitals and the accident site. The Embassy and Consulate are in close contact with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, as well as other local authorities, to ensure that all necessary support is provided.
The accident, which occurred while the pilgrims were travelling from Mecca to Medina, has sent shockwaves through India, with initial reports suggesting a significant number of passengers were from Telangana, particularly Hyderabad.
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed that he has spoken with Abu Mathen George, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who assured him that all necessary information is being gathered.
Nampally MLA Mohammad Majid Hussain says, “A very unfortunate accident took place in Saudi Arabia in which many people died in a bus accident. We are in touch with the authorities, and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi is in contact with the Consulate General of India in Jeddah. I am in touch with the bereaved families.”
Telangana Government’s measures
Responding to the crisis, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed shock and immediately directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to gather all details. The CM has instructed officials to coordinate with the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy to provide immediate relief measures.
A control room has been established within the Telangana Secretariat to continuously monitor the situation. Senior officials have been in direct contact with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah and the Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh to ascertain the number of pilgrims from the state involved in the accident.
Further extending support to families, a control room has also been established at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi. Senior officials there are coordinating with the Indian Embassy to get real-time updates. The contact numbers for this control room are: Vandhana, PS to Resident Commissioner, +91 98719 99044, and CH. Chakravarthi, Public Relations Officer: +91 99583 22143, Rakshith Nail, Liaison Officer: +91 96437 23157.
