Hyderabad, Nov 17: A devastating road accident in Saudi Arabia early Monday has left at least 42 Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad feared dead, after their bus collided with a diesel tanker while travelling from Mecca to Medina. Local media reports said the crash took place around 1.30 am IST in the Mufrihat area. Of the 43 individuals on board, only one survived and has been hospitalised, while the remaining passengers are believed to have died on the spot.
Officials said the pilgrims belonged to a Hyderabad-based group that included women and young children. Their details were being compiled by travel agencies and shared with authorities to aid in identification.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said he had directed top state officials to gather verified information. “The Chief Secretary and DGP have been asked to collect details at the earliest and confirm how many of those on board were from Telangana,” he said, adding that coordination had begun with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy. The state opened a control room at the Secretariat, and Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal was tasked with follow-up.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said he contacted Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. “He informed me that the Embassy is collecting information. I have forwarded the passenger list from two Hyderabad agencies to the Embassy and the Foreign Secretary,” Owaisi said. He called on the Union Government to ensure that the bodies are repatriated swiftly and that the injured pilgrim receives “complete medical care.”
The accident, one of the deadliest involving Indian pilgrims in recent years, prompted coordination between Saudi authorities and Indian officials throughout the day. As families in Hyderabad awaited confirmation, officials said details would be released after identification procedures are completed.
