Overview
- Reports from Indian and Saudi outlets say a bus carrying pilgrims from Mecca to Madinah collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat around 1:30 am IST, igniting a massive fire.
- Casualty counts vary, with most reports citing 42 feared dead and Hyderabad police giving a preliminary figure of up to 45, as charred remains complicate identification.
- Most victims are believed to be from Hyderabad, with early lists indicating many women and children were on board; one passenger survived and is hospitalized.
- The Consulate General of India in Jeddah and the Embassy in Riyadh have set up round‑the‑clock control rooms, while Telangana authorities opened state helplines and coordination centers.
- Saudi officials are investigating the cause of the collision, as Indian leaders call for swift assistance, verification of identities, and repatriation of the deceased.