A tragic collision between a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims and a diesel tanker in Saudi Arabia has reportedly killed at least 42 people. The accident occurred early Monday morning, around 1:30 am IST, near Muhras/Mufrihat, approximately 160 km from Madinah, as the bus traveled from Makkah to Madinah.

Initial reports indicate that many of the passengers were asleep when the collision occurred, leaving them with little chance to escape as the bus burst into flames. The impact of the crash was severe, and rescue teams have described the scene as devastating, with the bus completely gutted, making victim identification extremely challenging.

Unofficial sources suggest that many of the victims were women and children from Hyderabad, with early reports indicating that 11 women and 10 children may be among the deceased, though authorities are still verifying these numbers. Immigration officials in Hyderabad have confirmed that all 42 victims were from the city.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Consulate of India in Jeddah has established a 24x7 control room to assist families and concerned parties. A toll-free helpline number, 8002440003, has been set up for inquiries. The Telangana government is coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials in New Delhi to work closely with embassy authorities. A control room has also been established at the Telangana Secretariat, with helplines 79979 59754 and 99129 19545 available for assistance.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has stated that 42 Umrah pilgrims were on the bus when it caught fire. He has contacted Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who assured him that information about the accident is being gathered. Owaisi has urged the central government to ensure the repatriation of the bodies to India and to provide proper medical care to the injured. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has expressed shock over the accident and affirmed that the Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing full support to the affected Indian nationals and their families.

Saudi Civil Defence and police responded to the scene. One person is believed to have survived the crash, though their condition is currently unknown. The accident occurred on a wide road known for high-speed traffic.