At least 45 Indian pilgrims lost their lives when a bus transporting them between the holy cities of Mecca and Medina caught fire in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, according to Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar. The vehicle was carrying 46 passengers at the time of the incident. The lone survivor, a man from Hyderabad, has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a local hospital, officials said.
Most of those on board were from Hyderabad in Telangana and on their way to Umrah, a pilgrimage performed by Muslims throughout the year and considered shorter than the annual Hajj. The tragedy occurred as the group was travelling from Mecca to Medina. While the exact cause of the accident remains unclear, Commissioner Sajjanar confirmed that an oil tanker collided with the bus, triggering the fire.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X, calling the incident “deeply distressing” and assuring that Indian authorities were coordinating closely with Saudi officials. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are “providing all necessary assistance,” he said.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju also expressed their heartfelt condolences to the affected families.
