A devastating bus accident near Medina, Saudi Arabia killed 45 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Telangana after their bus collided with an oil tanker and caught fire. Learn about the victims, government response, and ongoing investigation into this heart-breaking tragedy.
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A terrible road accident in Saudi Arabia has taken the lives of 45 Indian pilgrims from Telangana who were traveling to complete their Umrah pilgrimage. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, November 17, 2025, when a bus carrying 46 pilgrims collided with an oil tanker and burst into flames near the holy city of Medina.
Details of the Accident
The accident happened around 1:30 AM Indian Standard Time near Mufrihat, approximately 160 kilometers from Medina. The bus was traveling from Mecca to Medina when it collided with a diesel tanker on the highway. The impact triggered a powerful explosion that engulfed the vehicle within minutes.
According to Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, the fire spread so rapidly that passengers had almost no time to escape. The bus was completely destroyed in the blaze, making identification of victims extremely difficult as many bodies were charred beyond recognition.
The group of pilgrims was part of a larger 54 member party that had departed from Hyderabad on November 9, 2025, for their Umrah tour, with plans to return on November 23. Of the total group, 46 pilgrims boarded the bus involved in the accident, while four traveled separately by car to Medina, and another four remained in Mecca.
The Victims and Lone Survivor
The accident claimed the lives of 45 people, including 17 men, 18 women, and 10 children. Among the deceased were members of multiple families from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana. The tragedy was particularly devastating for one family from Ramnagar in Musheerabad, which lost 18 members across three generations.
The family of Shaik Naseeruddin, 70, and his wife Akhter Begum, 62, was among those who perished. The couple had traveled with their son Salauddin, 42, two daughters, and other family members, including several children. Relatives gathered at their home in shock when the news arrived, with one family member crying out that the entire family had been wiped out.
Mohammed Abdul Shoaib, a 24 year old man from Hyderabad, was the only person to survive the accident. Shoaib was seated near the driver when the collision occurred. He managed to break through a window and jump out of the bus before it was completely consumed by flames. Shoaib sustained injuries to his arms and legs and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in Medina, where he remains in critical condition.
According to his family members, Shoaib called them around 5:30 AM to inform them of the tragedy, stating that he had managed to escape while all others were caught in the flames. The young survivor lost his parents, grandfather, and members of his uncle’s family in the accident.
Government Response and Relief Measures
The Indian government responded swiftly to the tragedy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness and offered condolences to the bereaved families. In a message posted on social media, the Prime Minister stated that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing all possible assistance, and that Indian officials were in close contact with Saudi Arabian authorities.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also expressed shock at the accident and confirmed that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah were providing full support to Indian nationals and families affected by the tragedy.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah immediately set up a 24 hour control room to assist affected families and coordinate emergency response. The consulate released multiple helpline numbers, including a toll free number 8002440003, along with WhatsApp enabled contact numbers for families seeking information.
A team of consulate officials rushed to the accident site and to hospitals where the casualties were taken as soon as they learned of the incident. The Consul General personally visited hospitals to check on the condition of the sole survivor and ensure he was receiving proper medical care.
Telangana State Government Action
The Telangana government took immediate steps to support the affected families. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy convened an urgent cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon, where several key decisions were made.
The state government announced an ex gratia payment of five lakh rupees to the family of each victim. The cabinet also decided to send an official delegation to Saudi Arabia, led by State Minority Welfare Minister Mohammed Azharuddin. The team would include an AIMIM MLA and a senior official from the Minority Welfare Department to coordinate with Saudi authorities and provide assistance to affected families.
The government made arrangements to facilitate two family members of each victim to travel to Saudi Arabia to attend the funerals. It was decided that the last rites of the deceased would be performed in Saudi Arabia in accordance with religious customs.
A dedicated control room was established at the state secretariat to assist families and provide information. Two helpline numbers were activated for relatives seeking updates: 79979 59754 and 99129 19545.
Minister Azharuddin expressed deep shock over the tragedy and assured families that the government would extend every possible support through the Minority Welfare Department. He stated that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy took immediate action, directing officials to gather complete details and coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.
Identification Challenges and DNA Testing
The process of identifying the deceased proved extremely challenging due to the severity of the burns. Indian Consul General Fahad Khan Suri and a team of officials travelled to Medina, approximately 400 kilometres from Jeddah, to meet with local authorities and work on identifying the victims.
Because the bodies were burnt beyond recognition, officials determined that DNA testing would be required for proper identification. Indian authorities began coordinating procedures to expedite the identification process and assist families with burial arrangements. Relatives of the victims were expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia to provide DNA samples for the testing.
The mortal remains of the deceased were transferred to three hospitals in Medina: King Fahad Hospital, King Salman Hospital, and Al Miqat Hospital.
Investigation and Circumstances
Saudi authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to the accident. According to sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, the bus was stopped on the side of the road when the oil tanker collided with it, resulting in the explosion. However, the exact sequence of events remained unclear in the immediate aftermath.
Mohammed Sameer, brother of the survivor Mohammed Shoaib, stated that it was uncertain whether the tanker hit the vehicle while it was moving or stationary. Most passengers were reportedly asleep at the time of the collision, which occurred during the late night hours.
The bus driver also reportedly escaped from the accident scene, though there was limited information about his whereabouts.
Travel Agency Response
The pilgrims had traveled through multiple travel agencies based in Hyderabad, including Al Makkah Tours and Travels and Flyzone Tours and Travels. After news of the accident broke, worried family members rushed to the offices of these travel agencies seeking information about their loved ones.
Mohammed Aijaz, the main travel agent at Al Makkah Tours and Travels, which had booked tour packages for 15 pilgrims, stated that the agency had spoken with several pilgrims before they boarded the bus regarding transportation and hotel arrangements. However, after the accident, they were unable to contact anyone.
The management of Flyzone Tours and Travels immediately decided to travel to Saudi Arabia to coordinate with authorities in helping identify the persons who died in the accident.
Family Reactions and Community Grief
The tragedy left families and the broader community in Hyderabad devastated. Hundreds of relatives gathered at the homes of victims and at travel agency offices, desperately seeking information about their loved ones.
Mohammed Tehseen, a resident of Asif Nagar in Hyderabad, lost seven family members in the accident. He explained that 20 people from their neighborhood had gone on Umrah together through a local tour operator. They learned about the tragedy in the early hours of Monday from the lone survivor.
“We never thought such an incident would occur. We are all in shock,” Tehseen said. He added that some family members wanted to travel to Saudi Arabia to bring back the mortal remains of their loved ones.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi expressed grief over the tragedy and stated that he was in touch with Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who was gathering information about the incident. Owaisi shared passenger details with the Indian Embassy and urged the government to ensure proper medical care for the injured and facilitate the repatriation of bodies if families desired.
Context of Pilgrimage Safety
Transportation of worshippers around Saudi Arabia’s holy sites has proven dangerous on multiple occasions, particularly during the Hajj season when roads can become chaotic with buses creating heavy traffic congestion. Over the decades, several major accidents involving pilgrims have claimed hundreds of lives.
Saudi authorities have continuously worked to upgrade facilities and implement safety measures to prevent such tragedies. However, experts note that accidents still occur due to factors including speeding and driver negligence on the roads connecting holy cities.
Safety regulations for buses transporting pilgrims in Saudi Arabia require vehicles to be equipped with fire extinguishers and first aid medical equipment. Buses must also have emergency exits to facilitate passenger evacuation in critical situations. Despite these requirements, the speed and intensity of the fire in this particular accident left passengers with virtually no time to escape.
Conclusion
As families mourn the loss of their loved ones, Indian and Saudi authorities continue working to support the affected families and complete the investigation into this heartbreaking accident. The tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the risks that pilgrims face during their sacred journeys, even as authorities work to implement stronger safety measures.
The Telangana government’s decision to send a ministerial delegation to Saudi Arabia demonstrates the commitment to providing comprehensive support to grieving families during this extremely difficult time. The coordination between Indian diplomatic missions and Saudi authorities reflects the importance of international cooperation in responding to such disasters affecting citizens abroad.
This accident represents one of the deadliest incidents involving Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia in recent years, and the loss of entire families, including numerous children, has left an indelible mark on the communities of Hyderabad and Telangana.
Source: Saudi Arabia bus crash: 42 Indians on Umrah pilgrim die, Hyderabad man survives miraculously & 45 Indians on pilgrimage to Mecca die after bus collides
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