In a tragic incident, dozens of Indian pilgrims lost their lives in a bus accident near the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia. The accident, involving a collision between a bus and a diesel tanker on a highway, has left the Indian community in shock and mourning. Gaurav Uppal, a senior official from Telangana state, confirmed that around 45 people from Telangana are feared dead, with one individual sustaining injuries. The bus, carrying 46 people, was en route from Mecca to Medina when the fatal crash occurred.
The impact of this tragedy has been deeply felt in India, with relatives of the victims gathering outside the Fly Zone travel agency in Hyderabad to seek information about their loved ones. Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, and Telangana's highest-elected official, Revanth Reddy, have extended their condolences to the bereaved families. The Indian embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah are providing support to the relatives of the victims, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Jaishankar.
Among the deceased, at least 18 individuals were from Hyderabad, according to preliminary reports. The victims predominantly belonged to two families, and the injured passenger, Mohammed Shoaib, is receiving medical attention. The police are in contact with the travel agency that organized the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, ensuring a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
