 "An undated photograph of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. (Representational Photo, Credit: Reuters)")
At least 42 pilgrims were feared dead after a bus carrying them collided with a diesel tanker near Medina in Saudi Arabia.
The incident was reported in the early hours of Monday. The bus was going from Mecca to Medina.
The Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia confirmed the accident and published helpline numbers.
The embassy said, “In view of a tragic bus accident near Madina, Saudi Arabia, involving Indian Umrah pilgirms, a 24x7 Control Room has been set up in Consulate General of India, Jeddah. The contact details of the Helpline are as under: 8002440003 (Toll free), 0122614093, 0126614276, 0556122301 (WhatsApp).”
Indian nationals are understood to be from Hyderabad. The specific details were not yet available.
The Telangana Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy “expressed shock over the bus accident in Saudi Arabia involving Indian pilgrims from Hyderabad”, according to ANI.
“The CM immediately ordered the CS and DGP to find out the full details. He asked how many people lived in Telangana. He advised them to speak with officials from the Central Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy. He ordered that, if necessary, they should immediately enter the field to provide appropriate relief efforts,” the CMO said.
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View AllSeparately, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims met with an accident in Saudi Arabia. He said he had contacted Hyderabad-based travel agencies and shared the passengers’ information with the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia.
“Forty-two Hajj pilgrims who were travelling from Mecca to Medina were on a bus that caught fire…I spoke to Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, and he assured me that they are gathering information about the matter. I have contacted two Hyderabad-based travel agencies and shared the passengers’ details with the Riyadh Embassy and the Foreign Secretary. I request the Union Government, especially EAM Dr S. Jaishankar, to bring the bodies back to India and, if anyone is injured, ensure that they receive proper medical treatment,” Owaisi said.
The accident occurred around 1:30 am Indian time near Muhras or Mufrihat, roughly 160 km from Medina, according to Gulf News.
The Telangana government has set up a control room at the secretariat to assist families of the victims, the outlet reported.
The control room numbers are +91 79979 59754 and +91 99129 19545, as per the outlet.