In a heartbreaking incident, forty-five Indian pilgrims lost their lives when their bus caught fire in an accident near Medina, Saudi Arabia, as reported by the police commissioner of Hyderabad, VC Sajjanar.
The bus was carrying 46 passengers, and among them, only one man survived and is currently in intensive care at a local hospital.
The victims predominantly come from Hyderabad, in the southern state of Telangana, and were en route from the holy city of Mecca to Medina when the tragic accident occurred.
They were participating in the Umrah pilgrimage, a significant spiritual journey for Muslims.
According to reports, the accident involved an oil tanker, though specific details remain sparse at this time.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the accident in a message on X, stating that the Indian government is in close contact with Saudi officials to ensure assistance.
To support the victims' families, control rooms have been established in Jeddah and Hyderabad. Lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi has called on the federal government to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased.
On November 9, 54 pilgrims traveled from Hyderabad to Jeddah; however, while a few stayed in Mecca and others traveled separately, the remaining 46 were aboard the ill-fated bus.
Relatives of the victims are devastated by the news. Mohammed Tehseen, whose seven relatives were on the bus, spoke to media, recounting how he learned of the tragedy from a surviving relative.
