Hyderabad Pilgrims, Hearing Only 1 Survived: A Owaisi On Saudi Bus Crash
Hyderabad, India - A pall of grief has descended upon Hyderabad following a tragic bus accident in Saudi Arabia that claimed the lives of at least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims. The bus, carrying pilgrims from Mecca to Medina, collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat, approximately 160 km from Medina, in the early hours of Monday. The collision resulted in a massive fire, trapping many passengers inside.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressed his profound grief over the incident, stating that he is trying to get more information regarding the accident. According to initial reports, Owaisi stated that he heard only one person survived the crash. Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said that 42 pilgrims were on the bus when it caught fire. He also informed that 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 also reached out to two Hyderabad-based travel agencies and shared passenger details with the Riyadh Embassy and the Foreign Secretary. He urged the Indian government to ensure the bodies are brought back to India and that proper medical care is provided to any injured.
Initial reports suggest that many of the victims are from Hyderabad, with unofficial sources indicating that the passengers included women and children. Some reports indicate that there were 20 women and 11 children from Hyderabad. The pilgrims were returning from Mecca to Medina after completing their Umrah pilgrimage. Many passengers were reportedly asleep at the time of the collision, leaving them with little chance of escape. Rescue teams described the scene as devastating, with the bus completely charred, making victim identification extremely difficult.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the accident and directed officials to gather complete details and coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy for immediate support. The Telangana government has established a control room at the Telangana Secretariat to assist affected families. Citizens can reach the helplines at 79979 59754 and 99129 19545 for information.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has also activated a 24/7 control room for assistance. The toll-free helpline number is 8002440003, and additional contact numbers are 0122614093, 0126614276, and 0556122301 (WhatsApp).
Saudi Civil Defence and police responded swiftly to the accident site. Indian officials and representatives from Umrah agencies are also on the scene to assist in recovery efforts and provide information to families back home. Authorities are working to confirm the exact number of casualties and identify the victims. The accident occurred around 1:30 am IST.
