Bus Crash in Saudi Arabia Kills at Least 45 Indian Umrah Pilgrims

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A bus carrying Indian umrah pilgrims caught fire after colliding with a tanker on the highway between Mecca and Medina. The accident resulted in the death of at least 45 passengers in one of the deadliest road accidents involving foreign pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

According to Al Jazeera, the accident occurred on Monday as the bus was traveling from Mecca to Medina, a route commonly used by millions of people carrying out umrah throughout the year.

Saudi rescue teams reported that the vehicle was completely burnt, making it difficult to identify the victims.

Indian authorities described the impact as severe. The bus collided with a diesel tanker before catching fire, leaving only one survivor out of the 46 people on board. Medina and Indian officials stated that most of the passengers were from two large families, many of whom were residents of Hyderabad.

"The tragic bus accident involving Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia is deeply distressing," said Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote that he was "deeply saddened" and offered prayers "for the swift recovery of all those injured."

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju also expressed condolences to the families of the victims, as reported by NDTV.

The Indian Consulate in Jeddah announced the immediate formation of a control room to support the families and provide assistance services.

Despite umrah being conducted throughout the year and being visited by millions of pilgrims, Monday's accident highlights the ongoing risks in the kingdom's tourism sector.

The disaster also has repercussions in India, home to one of the world's largest Muslim populations, with over two million of its citizens working in Saudi Arabia.

Indian nationals have played a significant role in the Saudi labor market and have sent billions of dollars in remittances back to their homeland, strengthening bilateral relations that have been established for several decades.

Saudi authorities have not issued any public statement regarding the cause of the accident or the condition of the tanker driver. While families in India await the identification of the victims, the sole survivor, Mohd Abdul Shoiab, is still hospitalized and his condition remains unknown.

DITYA RASYADIPUTRA

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