On Monday, a tragic accident involving a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims to the holy city of Makkah claimed the lives of at least 18 Bangladeshi passengers, with a total of 22 fatalities reported.

Local news sources state that the unfortunate event unfolded around 4 pm on the 14-kilometer stretch of Aqabat Shaar road in the Asir province, while the bus was en route from Khamis Mushayt to Abha.

The accident transpired when the bus experienced a sudden brake failure while descending a bridge, leading it to collide with a barrier at the bridge's end. The impact caused the vehicle to overturn and ultimately catch fire.

Footage from the scene revealed emergency response teams, including two ambulances, rushing to the site of the crash. The severely damaged bus, reduced to its frame and barely recognizable, lay on its side amid the wreckage.

Muhammad Nazmul Hoque, Consul General of the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah, informed local media that the bus had been carrying a total of 47 passengers, 35 of whom were Bangladeshi migrant workers. Out of these passengers, 22 tragically lost their lives in the accident, while the remaining 29 sustained injuries and were promptly taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.