 "Mohd Abdul Shoiabn was sitting near the driver when the bus, which was travelling from Mecca to Medina, crashed into a diesel tanker near Mufrihat around 1:30 am IST, killing 42 Indian pilgrims, most of them from Hyderabad. Image courtesy: X")
One person has miraculously survived the terrible bus crash in Saudi Arabia that killed over 40 Indian Umrah pilgrims near Medina on Monday.
There were about 45 people, reportedly 20 women and 11 children, on the bus when it crashed into an oil tanker late at night. The collision caused a huge fire. The only survivor is now in the hospital, but his condition is not known yet, Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar told the media.
Here’s what we know about him and what happened that night.
Who is the lone survivor of the Saudi bus accident?
The only known survivor of the Saudi bus accident is 24-year-old Mohd Abdul Shoiab from Hyderabad, NDTV reported.
He was sitting near the driver when the bus, which was travelling from Mecca to Medina, crashed into a diesel tanker near Mufrihat around 1:30 am IST, killing 42 Indian pilgrims, most of them from Hyderabad.
Shoaib is currently in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. His exact medical condition has not been shared yet.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has expressed concern and asked officials to collect a detailed report on the tragedy. According to his office, early information showed that several people on the bus were residents of Hyderabad.
About 16 pilgrims were travelling through two Hyderabad-based agencies - Al-Meena Hajj and Umrah Travels.
Reddy has instructed officials to immediately reach out to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy for help. His office also said that Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao spoke to Coordination Secretary Gaurav Uppal in Delhi to make sure all necessary support and relief measures are put in place.
To assist families, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah has opened a 24×7 control room. The helpline numbers are: The helpline numbers are: 8002440003 (toll free), 0122614093, 0126614276, and 0556122301 (WhatsApp).
‘Bus caught fire, only one man survived’
A video from the crash site has been widely shared on social media, in which a man can be heard describing what he witnessed just moments after the accident.
He begins the phone call and tries to explain the shocking scene he saw unfold.
“Information dena ye hai ke, Mecca se Medina ko bus aa rahi thi bhai… Wo bus poori jal gayi. Usme se ek aadmi, ek driver bach gaya bhai. Hyderabad ke log hai usme,” the caller is heard saying.
(I want to inform you that a bus travelling from Mecca to Medina has caught fire. Only one man, a driver, survived. People from Hyderabad were on board.)
“Agar koi bhi hai, apne gharo ko maloom kar lo bhai thoda. Me bhi abhi abhi bus ko dekha. Me takleef bardasht nahi ho rahi bhai. Me video nikala. Ek aadmi merko number diya. Me phone kar ke logo ko itelah kar raha hu,” he continues.
(Please check with your families. I just saw the bus. I can’t bear the pain. I recorded the accident on camera. A man gave me a number, and I am calling people to inform them.)
He ends the call by saying that sharing this information is the only help he can offer at the moment.
Indian authorities respond
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently visiting Russia, described the accident as shocking and directed officials to extend full support. He said the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah are assisting Indian nationals and the families of the victims.
In a social media post, he offered condolences to the families of those who died and wished a speedy recovery for the injured survivors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to X to offer his condolences.
The Indian mission in Saudi Arabia is also collecting detailed information and working closely with Saudi authorities to ensure timely updates and support for those affected.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah called it a “tragic” bus accident and has set up a 24x7 control room at 8002440003.
With input from agencies
Sayli Dhodapkar is currently working as a Sub-Editor at Firstpost Editorial team.