Expressing shock over the tragic accident in Saudi Arabia, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday said that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing full support to the affected Indian nationals and their families.
“Deeply shocked at the accident involving Indian nationals in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving the 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,” Jaishankar said.
As many as 42 Indian pilgrims lost their lives when a bus collided with a diesel tanker in the early hours of Monday in Saudi Arabia. Most of the victims are believed to be from Hyderabad, with reports indicating that at least 16 were residents of the Mallepally and Bazarghat areas.
The bus was traveling from Mecca to Medina after the pilgrims had completed their visit to the holy city.
The crash occurred around 01:30 hours, and the impact sparked a fire that quickly engulfed the vehicle. Many passengers were asleep at the time, contributing to the high death toll.
Considering the tragic bus accident near Madina, Saudi Arabia, involving Indian Umrah pilgirms, a 24×7 Control Room has been set up in the Consulate General of India, Jeddah. The contact details of the Helpline are as under: Toll-free number-8002440003
According to preliminary reports, 20 women and 11 children were among the deceased. Only one person survived. Rescue agencies are still working at the site, and the identification of bodies is ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Haj Committee said they are awaiting an official clarification from the Central Government, expected later today. Efforts are also underway to determine which travel agency organized the pilgrimage and how many of the deceased were residents of Telangana.
An official statement said that Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed profound shock over the tragedy and took immediate action. He instructed Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Ravi Gupta to gather full details of the incident. The CM expressed deep pain over media reports confirming that several Hyderabad residents were among the victims.
Following his directions, the Chief Secretary alerted Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal in New Delhi and asked him to coordinate with the union Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy. The state has also initiated steps for necessary relief measures.
The Chief Minister announced that a control room has been set up in the Secretariat to assist families seeking information. Officials requested citizens to contact the following numbers for details regarding the tragedy in Saudi Arabia: 91 79979 59754 and 91 99129 19545.
