November 17: Panic and grief engulfed several neighbourhoods in Hyderabad on Monday morning as dozens of anxious relatives rushed to local travel agencies seeking information about their loved ones after a tragic accident near Medina claimed the lives of at least 45 Indian pilgrims.
According to officials, a bus carrying 54 Umrah pilgrims—most of them from Hyderabad—collided with an oil tanker around 1:30 am (IST) while travelling from Mecca to Medina. The impact of the collision triggered a massive blaze, leaving only one survivor from the group on board.
Confirming the details, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar said the group had departed from Hyderabad to Jeddah on November 9. “Their travel schedule was from November 9 to 23. Out of the 54 pilgrims, eight opted to travel separately and escaped the tragedy. The remaining 46 boarded the bus, and 45 of them died in the accident,” he said.
Families of the pilgrims, many in tears, gathered outside travel offices across the city as they awaited official communication about the victims.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is currently on a visit to Russia, expressed deep shock over the incident. “Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing the fullest support to Indian nationals and the families affected by this tragedy,” he said in a statement.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia are coordinating with Indian officials to complete identification procedures and facilitate the repatriation of the deceased.
