Overview
- The passenger bus traveling from Mecca to Medina collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat around 1:30 am IST and burst into flames.
- Hyderabad police cited a preliminary toll of at least 45 dead, while several outlets reported 42, with only one known survivor under hospital care.
- Many of the deceased are reported to be women and children, and most victims are from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana.
- The Indian Consulate in Jeddah and Embassy in Riyadh have activated round-the-clock control rooms and published helplines for families seeking information.
- Officials say identification is difficult due to severe burns, as teams coordinate with Saudi authorities on verification, medical assistance, and repatriation; the group left Hyderabad on November 9.