Overview
- A bus carrying Umrah pilgrims from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat around 1:30 am IST, sparking a fast-spreading fire.
- Reports widely cite roughly 42 fatalities, with some putting the number at 45, and Saudi authorities have not yet issued a final confirmed toll.
- Most victims are Indian nationals from Hyderabad and Telangana, including women and children, and one passenger survived and is receiving treatment.
- The Indian Consulate in Jeddah and the Embassy in Riyadh activated a round-the-clock control room and are coordinating with Saudi officials on identification and repatriation.
- Telangana state established control rooms and helplines as national and state leaders offered condolences and directed agencies to support affected families.