By Fatima Mukhtar
A tragic road accident in Saudi Arabia has claimed the lives of around 45 Indian nationals who were on their way to perform religious activities, authorities have confirmed.
The fatal crash occurred in the early hours of Monday on a major highway connecting Mecca and Medina, two of the holiest cities in Islam. The victims were pilgrims from India who had recently completed Umrah rites.
According to official reports, the bus carrying the pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker, leading to an explosion that engulfed the entire vehicle in flames. The accident happened at about 1:30 a.m. local time, leaving the passengers with little chance of escape. Saudi emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the intense fire destroyed the bus, making rescue efforts extremely difficult.
Authorities in India and Saudi Arabia confirmed that 45 Indian pilgrims died in the incident. Many of them were from Telangana State, particularly Hyderabad and surrounding areas. Only one passenger, identified as 24-year-old Mohammed Abdul Shoaib, survived the tragedy. Shoaib, who was seated near the driver, managed to escape before the flames spread. He is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia.
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has set up a 24-hour emergency helpline to assist families of the victims. Consular officials said they are working with Saudi authorities to identify the bodies and complete necessary procedures.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness over the accident, praying for the souls of the deceased and strength for their families. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also described the incident as “deeply distressing.” In India, the Telangana State Government announced a compensation package of ₹5 lakh for each victim’s family.
The route between Mecca and Medina is frequently used by pilgrims, especially during Umrah and Hajj periods. Although Saudi Arabia has made major improvements to its road networks in recent years, accidents involving buses carrying pilgrims remain a recurring concern. This latest tragedy is one of the deadliest transport accidents involving foreign pilgrims in recent years.
Saudi authorities have begun an investigation to determine the exact cause of the tanker collision and to understand the sequence of events that led to the massive fire. Officials say further details will be released as inquiries continue and identification of victims is completed.
