New Delhi: At least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims are feared dead after a tragic accident in Saudi Arabia early Monday morning. A bus carrying devotees from
Mecca to Madinah collided with a diesel tanker around 1:30 am IST at a place called Mufarahat, according to initial reports.
The passengers had completed their Umrah rituals in Mecca and were on their way to visit the holy city of Madinah. Many of them were reportedly asleep during the accident. The victims include several women, children, and multiple pilgrims from Hyderabad. Early information suggests that around 20 women and 11 children were on the bus.
Local sources have reported 42 deaths, but officials are still confirming the exact number of deaths and checking the condition of those who survived. Emergency teams in Saudi Arabia are currently carrying out rescue and recovery operations.
Deeply shocked at the accident involving Indian nationals in Medinah, Saudi Arabia.
Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident.
Sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Pray for the…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 17, 2025
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed deep shock over the tragic incident. As soon as he received the news, he directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to collect all details immediately. He asked them to find out how many people from Telangana were on the bus and to stay in close contact with the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy. He also instructed officials to provide relief measures without any delay if needed.
Following the Chief Minister’s instructions, Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao alerted Coordination Secretary Gaurav Uppal in Delhi. He asked him to confirm about the pilgrims involved in the accident and share it with the state as soon as possible.
To help families and provide timely updates, a control room has been set up at the Telangana Secretariat. Officials said that more information will be shared once verification is completed.
