A tragic accident in Saudi Arabia has claimed the lives of at least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims, many of them from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana. The victims were travelling from Mecca to Madinah when their bus collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat early Monday. The impact of the crash was devastating, leaving dozens dead and several severely injured according to early reports. Rescue teams, paramedics and local authorities reached the spot immediately to carry out emergency response operations while efforts continue to verify the exact number of casualties and confirm the identities of those on board.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has opened a 24x7 control room to support families of the victims, providing a toll-free helpline at 8002440003. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed shock over the incident and assured that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Jeddah Consulate are extending full assistance to affected nationals. He conveyed condolences to the families who lost loved ones and wished recovery for the injured. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also reacted with deep grief and instructed senior state officials to gather verified details of Telangana residents onboard and maintain close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy. A special control room at the Telangana Secretariat has been activated, with helplines 79979 59754 and 99129 19545 for relatives seeking urgent information.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressed sorrow over the massive loss and confirmed that he has contacted travel agencies and shared passenger details with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. He spoke to Deputy Chief of Mission Abu Mathen George, who indicated that local authorities in Saudi Arabia are actively collecting and verifying information before issuing an official update. Owaisi urged the Union Government and the External Affairs Minister to ensure the swift repatriation of bodies to India and provide medical care for survivors. Authorities in India and Saudi Arabia continue efforts to identify victims, assist injured passengers, and coordinate relief measures. Further updates are expected as verification progresses and official agencies release detailed information.
