At least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad lost their lives early Monday when their bus collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat, on the route from Mecca to Madinah in Saudi Arabia. Several others sustained injuries in the severe impact.
Emergency response teams and local authorities reached the crash site immediately to begin rescue and relief operations. Officials are still in the process of confirming the final casualty count and identifying all victims.
To support the affected families, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah has activated a 24×7 control room. A toll-free helpline (8002440003) has been issued for assistance. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, expressing deep shock on X, said that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Jeddah Consulate are extending “the fullest support” to survivors and families of the deceased. He offered condolences and wished a quick recovery to the injured.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has also expressed sorrow over the tragedy. He instructed Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and DGP B. Shivadhar Reddy to urgently collect detailed information about the passengers and confirm how many were from Telangana. The state government is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Saudi Embassy, and has opened a control room at the Telangana Secretariat. Families can contact 79979 59754 or 99129 19545 for updates.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi conveyed his grief and stated that he had contacted two Hyderabad-based travel agencies, sharing passenger details with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. He also spoke to Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission, who said that Saudi authorities are compiling information and will update Indian officials soon. Owaisi urged the Union Government and EAM Jaishankar to ensure the bodies are brought back to India promptly and that injured pilgrims receive proper medical care.
Authorities continue verification procedures, and further updates are expected as relief and coordination efforts progress.