Dozens of Indian pilgrims feared dead as bus crashes in Saudi Arabia

Transporting worshippers astir Saudi Arabia’s beatified sites has often proven dangerous.

Dozens of Indian Muslims are reported to person been killed arsenic a autobus carrying them betwixt pilgrimage sites successful Saudi Arabia crashed.

The bus, which was reportedly carrying 46 people, collided with a diesel tanker connected a road arsenic it travelled from the beatified metropolis of Mecca to Medina overnight connected Monday.

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Indian media reports person not confirmed the decease toll, but 1 authoritative reported that up to 45 radical – galore from the confederate Indian authorities of Telangana, had perished.

Diplomats and politicians expressed their condolences implicit the “tragic” incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote connected societal media that helium was “deeply saddened”, that his “thoughts are with the families who person mislaid their loved ones”, and that helium was praying “for the swift betterment of each those injured”.

The Indian consulate successful Jeddah said a power country has been acceptable up to supply helplines.

Deeply saddened by the mishap successful Medinah involving Indian nationals. My thoughts are with the families who person mislaid their loved ones. I commune for the swift betterment of each those injured. Our Embassy successful Riyadh and Consulate successful Jeddah are providing each imaginable assistance. Our…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2025

Vishwanath Channappa Sajjanar, constabulary main of Hyderabad, superior of Telangana, told a quality conference: “There were 46 radical successful the autobus and 1 rider survived with injuries.”

Most of the victims were from 2 families, helium added. The injured rider was named arsenic Mohammed Shoaib.

The constabulary are successful interaction with the question bureau done which the pilgrims had travelled to Saudi Arabia, Sajjanar continued.

Dangerous road

Transporting worshippers astir Saudi Arabia’s beatified sites has often proven dangerous, peculiarly during the Hajj, erstwhile roads tin beryllium chaotic with buses creating interminable postulation jams.

Millions besides sojourn Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, which happens astatine immoderate clip extracurricular the Hajj period.

In March 2023, a autobus carrying pilgrims to Mecca burst into flames aft a collision connected a bridge, sidesplitting 20 radical and injuring much than 2 dozen.

In October 2019, 35 were killed and 4 injured erstwhile a autobus collided with different dense conveyance adjacent Medina.

Pilgrimages are an indispensable constituent of Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning tourism assemblage that officials anticipation volition assistance diversify the kingdom’s system distant from fossil fuels.

The Gulf kingdom is besides location to much than 2 cardinal Indian nationals who person agelong played a pivotal relation successful its labour market, helping conception galore of the country’s mega-projects portion sending billions of dollars successful remittances backmost location each year.

Saudi Arabia and India person fostered a adjacent narration for decades.

India’s rapidly processing system relies heavy connected petroleum imports, with Saudi Arabia ranked arsenic its third-largest supplier, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.