Bus crash in Saudi Arabia kills 42 Umrah pilgrims, mostly Indians PHOTO/VIDEO

A bus accident in Saudi Arabia has left 42 Umrah pilgrims dead and one survivor after the vehicle collided with a diesel tanker early on November 17 while traveling from Mecca to Medina, officials confirmed.

Most passengers were reportedly asleep when the crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

The victims were predominantly Indian nationals, many of them from Hyderabad in the southern state of Telangana. According to the Telangana State Haj Committee, the dead include 20 women and 11 children. Pilgrims from other parts of Telangana were also on board.

Local residents were among the first to reach the site and assisted rescue teams in pulling victims from the wreckage. On-ground sources indicated that more than 40 people died instantly, though Saudi authorities have not yet issued an official casualty count.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he was “deeply shocked” by the incident, adding that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing “fullest support” to those affected. He offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

By Sabina Mammadli