Medina bus crash: 24-year-old from Hyderabad only survivor as 42 Indian pilgrims die
The bus is estimated to have had around 46 passengers on board when it rammed into the oil tanker at around 1.30 am
PTC Web Desk: A tragic road accident near Medina on Monday claimed the lives of 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims, leaving only one survivor from the group. The lone survivor, 24-year-old Mohd Abdul Shoiab from Hyderabad, was reportedly seated near the driver when the bus travelling from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker. He has been admitted to a hospital, though the extent of his injuries remains unclear.
The bus is estimated to have had around 46 passengers on board when it rammed into the oil tanker at around 1.30 am (IST). In response to the incident, the Indian mission in Jeddah has set up an emergency control room to assist with coordination and support for the affected families.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently in Russia, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing complete support to those impacted and extended condolences to the bereaved families while wishing a quick recovery for the injured survivor.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also expressed his grief over the incident. Upon receiving initial information that several victims were from Hyderabad, he directed the Chief Secretary and the state’s Director General of Police to obtain full details of the crash. He further instructed officials to maintain regular communication with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy, ensuring immediate relief steps are taken.