Indian authorities have set up emergency helplines and are verifying identities after the Medina accident left dozens of Umrah pilgrims dead.
At least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims are feared dead after a bus carrying them collided with a diesel tanker near Medina in Saudi Arabia, leaving the vehicle engulfed in flames. Local Saudi media reported the horrific accident on Monday, with several of the victims believed to be from Hyderabad.
Telangana information technology minister D Sridhar Babu said preliminary information suggests at least 16 of those killed were residents of Hyderabad’s Bazarghat area in Mallepalli. Officials, however, are still verifying identities. The group had reportedly left Hyderabad on November 9 and was returning to Medina after offering Umrah prayers in Mecca when tragedy struck. They had travelled through Al Meena and Al Mecca Travels based in Nampally, a family member said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the incident, noting that both the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing “the fullest support” to those affected. He offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished a swift recovery for the injured.
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has set up a 24×7 control room to assist families. In a post on X, the mission released a helpline for urgent queries: 8002440003 (toll-free).
Telangana government coordinates with Centre
The Telangana government said it is in constant touch with Indian officials in Saudi Arabia. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy directed chief secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Anjani Kumar to gather immediate details of the victims and establish how many Telangana residents were on board.
Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal in Delhi has been tasked with collecting information from central agencies. A dedicated control room has also been activated at the State Secretariat to assist families and streamline updates.
Hyderabad MP seeks swift action
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi called for urgent intervention by the Centre. Owaisi said he had spoken to Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who assured him that officials were compiling details.
Owaisi said he had also contacted the Hyderabad-based tour operators involved and shared the passengers’ information with both the Riyadh Embassy and the Foreign Secretary. He urged External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to ensure the bodies of the deceased are repatriated quickly and that any injured pilgrims receive immediate and proper medical care.
The incident marks one of the most devastating tragedies involving Indian pilgrims in recent years, and both state and central agencies are working to verify the full list of casualties.
