At least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims, predominantly from Hyderabad, are feared dead after their bus collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat, Saudi Arabia, early Monday morning. The bus was transporting devotees from Mecca to Madinah following the completion of their sacred rituals when the accident occurred, reportedly around 1:30 AM IST. Many passengers were asleep at the time, and the crash caused a massive fire that completely gutted the bus, complicating rescue efforts and victim identification.

Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who represents Hyderabad, confirmed his efforts to obtain detailed information on the tragedy. He has coordinated with the Indian Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh and Hyderabad-based travel agencies to assist the families. Owaisi called on the Union Government, particularly the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, to expedite the repatriation of bodies and ensure proper medical care for any survivors. The victims reportedly include women and children, making the incident even more heartbreaking.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed deep shock and grief over the accident and ordered district officials to maintain close coordination with Indian embassy authorities in Saudi Arabia. The Consulate General of India in Jeddah described the crash as a “tragic” event and set up a 24x7 control room to assist the affected families at the phone number 8002440003. Saudi Civil Defense and police were quick to respond to the scene and have joined Indian embassy officials in ongoing rescue and investigation operations.

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As the nation mourns this heartbreaking loss, officials continue to seek clarity on exact casualty figures and support for the families of those affected. The pilgrimage meant to be a spiritually uplifting journey has tragically turned into a nightmarish tragedy, underscoring the perilous nature of road travel in foreign lands for devout travelers.

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