In a devastating incident that has cast a pall of grief, at least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad are feared to have lost their lives in a horrific road accident in Saudi Arabia. The tragedy occurred early Monday morning when their bus collided with a diesel tanker.
Details of the Tragic Collision
The fatal accident took place at approximately 1:00 AM Pakistan Standard Time (PST) in the Mufrihat area. The bus was carrying 43 passengers who had just completed their sacred Umrah rituals in Mecca and were en route to the city of Madinah. According to initial reports from MediaOne, the vehicle was largely occupied by families, with preliminary estimates suggesting there were around 20 women and 11 children on board. Many of the pilgrims were reportedly asleep at the time of the collision, which then triggered a massive fire.
Aftermath and Rescue Operations
Tragically, out of the 43 individuals on the bus, only one person is believed to have survived. The lone survivor has been admitted to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment. Emergency teams are currently on the scene, carrying out difficult recovery and identification efforts. While local sources have reported 42 fatalities, the exact death toll is still awaiting official confirmation from the authorities. The cause of the catastrophic crash has not yet been officially established.
Official Confirmations and Ongoing Investigation
Both the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the travel agency associated with the pilgrim group have confirmed the occurrence of the accident. Further details are expected to emerge as a full investigation into the cause of the collision is conducted by Saudi officials. This heartbreaking event has sent shockwaves through communities in India and among the global Muslim community, highlighting the profound dangers of road travel.
