42 Indian pilgrims feared dead in bus-tanker collision near Medina in Saudi Arabia

At least 42 people were charred to death after a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker near Medina, according to local media in Saudi Arabia on Monday. The victims are believed to be Indian nationals, with several reportedly from Hyderabad.

The Telangana government said it is in contact with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. In an official statement, the state government confirmed that chief minister Revanth Reddy has alerted officials in New Delhi and instructed them to coordinate closely with embassy authorities.

Preliminary inputs indicate that at least 16 of those killed in the Saudi bus mishap were Hyderabad residents, Telangana information technology minister D Sridhar Babu said. He added that they were all reportedly from the Bazarghat area of Mallepalli, and officials are still verifying the identities of the deceased.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that 42 Hajj pilgrims travelling from Mecca to Medina were on a bus that caught fire, as he sought immediate action from the Centre following the fatal accident.

Owaisi said he had spoken to Abu Mathen George, deputy chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who “assured me that they are gathering information about the matter.” He added that he had also contacted two Hyderabad-based travel agencies and shared the passengers’ details with the Riyadh Embassy and the Foreign Secretary.

Urging the Centre to intervene, Owaisi said, “I request the Union Government, especially EAM Dr S Jaishankar, to bring the bodies back to India and, if anyone is injured, ensure that they receive proper medical treatment.”

This is a breaking story. We will update this report as verified details emerge.