At least 42 Indian pilgrims on the Umrah pilgrimage are feared dead after their bus collided with a diesel tanker and burst into flames near the holy city of Medina in the early hours of Monday.

The catastrophic accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. IST near the area of Mufrihat, as the bus was traveling from Mecca to Medina. The collision triggered a massive fire that quickly engulfed the vehicle, with many of the victims, including women and children, reportedly asleep and unable to escape.

Emergency crews from the Saudi Civil Defence and local police rushed to the scene to find the bus severely damaged and consumed by flames. The intensity of the fire has complicated rescue and recovery efforts, making victim identification a slow and difficult process. While one survivor has been reported, the full number of injured remains unconfirmed. Unofficial reports suggest that among the deceased are 11 women and 10 children.

Authorities are still working to verify the exact death toll and identify all the victims.

In response to the disaster, the Indian government has swiftly activated support mechanisms. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has established a 24-hour control room to assist affected families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound sorrow, offering heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and assuring full coordination with Saudi authorities. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described the crash as a “deep shock,” confirming that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing "the fullest support" to those affected.

Many of the pilgrims were reportedly from the Indian state of Telangana, particularly from the city of Hyderabad. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed senior officials to compile detailed passenger lists and coordinate closely with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed he had shared passenger details with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. He has urged the central government to ensure the repatriation of the deceased and that any injured receive comprehensive medical care.

As search and recovery operations continue, authorities from both nations are coordinating to manage the aftermath of one of the deadliest accidents to involve Indian pilgrims in recent years. (ILKHA)