A terrible crash near Madinah has left dozens of Indian pilgrims dead and shaken families back home in Telangana.
Early reports say a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker in Mufrihat about 160 km from Madinah in the small hours, and caught fire. Officials and local media in Saudi Arabia say at least 45 people were killed; only one passenger survived and is receiving treatment in hospital.
Telangana officials say many of the victims were from Hyderabad. The state’s IT minister, D. Sridhar Babu, said preliminary information shows about 16 of the dead came from the Bazarghat area of Mallepalli. Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar gave a rough passenger breakdown: 54 people from Hyderabad flew to Jeddah on November 9 as part of a 54-member group; four went on by car and four stayed in Mecca, while 46 continued by bus the vehicle that crashed about 25 km from Madinah. The lone survivor has been identified as Mohammad Abdul Suyaib and is in ICU at the Saudi German Hospital. Bodies were moved to a local hospital for formal identification and procedures.
The Telangana government said it is in touch with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah, and has set up a control room at the state secretariat to help families and collect information. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy ordered senior officials to urgently find out exactly how many Telangana residents were on the bus and to coordinate relief. The External Affairs Ministry and Indian missions in Saudi Arabia are providing support; Minister S. Jaishankar expressed shock, offered condolences, and said missions were extending “the fullest support” to those affected. The Consulate General in Jeddah also published a 24/7 helpline for families: toll free 8002440003.
Local MP Asaduddin Owaisi urged the central government to act quickly to bring the bodies home and ensure injured people get proper care. He said embassy officials were gathering passenger details and coordinating with travel agencies and Saudi authorities.
The group had left Hyderabad on November 9 to perform Umrah and was returning to Madinah from Mecca when the crash happened. Authorities are still verifying the identities of the victims and investigating the exact cause, though early reports say the pickup collided with an oil tanker and the resulting fire led to multiple fatalities.
Families are understandably devastated and waiting for clear information. Indian officials are focused now on identification, medical care for the injured, consular help, and bringing loved ones home.
