Over 40 Indian pilgrims feared dead in Saudi bus crash
A devastating road accident in Saudi Arabia has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 40 Indian pilgrims after their bus collided with a diesel tanker late Sunday night.
According to Indian media reports, the bus was traveling from Makkah to Madinah when the crash occurred around 11pm local time.
Initial reports indicate that the majority of passengers on board were from the Indian state of Telangana. The impact of the collision caused the bus to catch fire, leading to fears of a high number of casualties.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed deep shock following the incident and has directed officials to gather detailed information and coordinate with relevant authorities.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed that 42 Hajj pilgrims were on the bus at the time of the accident. Speaking to ANI, he said he had contacted Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who assured him that efforts were underway to obtain accurate details and support survivors.
Owaisi added that he has appealed to India’s Foreign Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, to ensure the bodies of the deceased are repatriated swiftly and that those injured receive immediate and adequate medical care.
Further updates are expected as authorities in Saudi Arabia and India continue to assess the full scale of the tragedy.
