At Least 45 Indian Pilgrims Killed in Bus–Tanker Crash Near Medina

Overview

• Local officials said 45 of the 46 people on the bus died and one person was injured while traveling from Mecca to Medina.
• Hyderabad police identified many victims as residents of the Telangana capital and said numerous passengers belonged to two families.
• Authorities reported the bus collided with a tanker on a highway near Medina, with conflicting accounts on whether it carried diesel or gasoline.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar offered condolences as the embassy in Riyadh and the Jeddah consulate coordinated support.
• Saudi officials had not issued a public comment as of the latest reports, and key details of the crash remain under verification.