A tragic accident early Monday turned a holy journey into a disaster when a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims crashed into a diesel tanker on the route from Makkah to Madinah. The crash caused a huge fire and left at least 42 people feared dead, many of them women and children from Hyderabad.
Local sources say that 11 women and 10 children may be among the victims. Officials are still confirming the final numbers.
India sets up 24×7 helpline
The Consulate of India in Jeddah quickly set up a 24×7 control room to support families.
Helpline (Toll-free): 8002440003
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the tragedy. He said that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are helping affected families and monitoring the situation closely. He also offered condolences to the families who lost loved ones.
Telangana Government Steps In
The Telangana government started coordinating with the Indian Embassy soon after the news broke.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy asked officials to collect full details of the passengers and confirm how many Telangana residents were on the bus. He also instructed officers to stay in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.
Telangana has opened a state-level control room:
Control Room Numbers:
+91 79979 59754, +91 99129 19545
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that the bus carried 42 Umrah pilgrims. He contacted the Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh, who promised regular updates. Owaisi also requested the central government to help bring the bodies back and ensure proper treatment for the injured.
Early-Morning Crash Leaves No Time to Escape
The accident took place around 1:30 am IST near Muhras/Mufrihat, about 160 km from Madinah. Many passengers were asleep when the crash happened, and the bus caught fire within moments.
Rescue teams reached the spot quickly but found the bus completely burned. The severe damage made identification of victims very difficult. One person reportedly survived, but their condition remains unclear.
Saudi and Indian Officials Work Together
Saudi Civil Defence teams reached the site and started rescue operations. Indian officials and Umrah agency representatives also arrived to help gather information and guide families.
Families Wait in Fear
Families in Hyderabad continue to call travel operators, government helplines, and embassy numbers as they wait for official confirmation. For many of them, a peaceful pilgrimage has turned into a heartbreaking search for answers.