One person managed to survive the tragic bus accident that killed 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims near Medina on Monday. The survivor has been identified as 24-year-old Mohd Abdul Shoiab. According to media sources, he was sitting close to the driver when the bus, travelling from Mecca to Medina, crashed into a diesel tanker. Shoiab is from Hyderabad and has been taken to a hospital, though his current health condition is not known.
Reports say that around 46 people were travelling in the bus when it struck the oil tanker at about 1:30 am (IST). The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has set up a special control room to help with relief and coordination after the accident.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is presently visiting Russia, said he was deeply shocked by the incident. He added that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing full support to the affected people and their families.
S Jaishankar said, “Our embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident.”
“Sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he shared this message on his social media account.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also expressed shock over the accident. His office said that after learning the initial details—that the crash happened while the pilgrims were travelling from Mecca to Medina and that some passengers were from Hyderabad—he asked the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to gather complete information. Reddy has also directed officials to speak with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy and to start all necessary relief measures immediately.
“Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has promptly spoken with Coordination Secretary Gaurav Uppal in Delhi and issued the required directives,” as per the statement on X. “A control room has been set up at the Secretariat to monitor details and relief measures regarding this incident on an ongoing basis, to provide information to the families and relatives,” it said further.
