Saudi Arabia Bus Crash: 42 Indian Umrah Pilgrims from Telangana Died Near Madinah

Riyadh / Hyderabad: A pilgrimage trip from Mecca to Madinah turned into a massive tragedy after a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker near Mufrihat in western Saudi Arabia. Early reports indicated that at least 42 Indian pilgrims, most of them from Telangana, were feared dead after the bus caught fire following the collision. Subsequent briefings from Indian officials now confirm that 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Telangana have died, while the overall toll on the bus is expected to be around 45 fatalities with only one survivor.

What We Know So Far About the Mecca–Madinah Bus Accident

• The accident occurred in the early hours of Monday, 17 November 2025, at around 1:30 am IST on the highway between Makkah and Madinah, in the area of Mufrihat, on the approach to Madinah.

• The passenger bus, carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims, reportedly collided with a diesel tanker. The impact triggered a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes, leaving it almost completely gutted.

• Indian and Saudi media reports state that at least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims have died. Officials say there were 46 people on board the bus, and only one passenger is known to have survived.

• Rescue teams from the Saudi Civil Defence, police and medical services rushed to the site, but the intense fire has made identification of many victims extremely difficult.

Most Victims From Telangana, Travelling in Umrah Groups

According to statements from the Government of Telangana and Indian media reports, 42 Indian pilgrims who died in the crash are from Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana. The majority of passengers on the bus were residents of Telangana who had travelled together in organised Umrah groups.

Local reports suggest that the group included around 20 women and 11 children. Several of the pilgrims are reported to have travelled through Hyderabad-based agencies, including Al-Meena Hajj and Umrah Travels and at least one other tour operator connected to the same overall group.

The pilgrims had completed their Umrah rituals in Mecca and were on their way to Madinah when the crash took place. Many passengers were reportedly asleep at the time of the collision, leaving them with very little chance to escape once the fire spread inside the bus.

18 Members of a Single Hyderabad Family Among Victims

Relatives in Hyderabad have confirmed that 18 members of one extended family from the Ramnagar area of the city were on the ill-fated bus and are among those who died. The loss spans three generations of the same family, including nine children.

Media reports identify the family as that of Shaik (Syed) Naseeruddin and his wife Akhter Begum, who were travelling with their children and grandchildren for Umrah. The entire group had left Hyderabad together on 9 November 2025 and was returning to Madinah after completing the pilgrimage in Makkah when the accident occurred.

Officials and family members have also indicated that other close-knit family groups were on the same bus, with another Hyderabad family reportedly losing up to five members in the crash. The tragedy has devastated several neighbourhoods in Hyderabad where multiple victims belonged to the same extended families.

Official Helpline Numbers for Families

In view of the tragedy, both the Government of Telangana and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah have set up control rooms and shared emergency helpline numbers. Families and relatives of the pilgrims have been urged to use only these official channels for verified information.

Telangana Government Control Room (Hyderabad)

• 📞 +91 79979 59754
• 📞 +91 99129 19545

The control room at the Telangana Secretariat has been tasked with monitoring all developments, coordinating with central agencies and Saudi authorities, and updating families with verified details.

Consulate General of India, Jeddah – 24×7 Control Room

• ☎️ 8002440003 (Toll-free within Saudi Arabia)
• ☎️ 012 261 4093
• ☎️ 012 661 4276
• WhatsApp: +966 55 612 2301

The Consulate has announced that it is working closely with Saudi authorities, hospitals and local agencies to ascertain the full list of victims, identify the deceased and assist the lone survivor.

Important: Families are advised not to share passport copies, Civil IDs or other personal documents publicly on social media. Information should be shared only through the official helpline numbers and verified government / consulate contacts.

Reaction From Indian & Telangana Governments

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar expressed deep shock over the incident, stating that the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing the “fullest support” to affected nationals and their families. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured pilgrim who survived.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has instructed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to:

• Collect accurate, verified details of how many Telangana residents were on board.

• Coordinate closely with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.

• Maintain constant contact with the Saudi authorities and Indian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah.

• Take up relief and support measures for the families of the deceased and the injured survivor.

The Telangana government has also announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the family of each deceased pilgrim. Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammed Azharuddin has been tasked with travelling to Saudi Arabia to coordinate with Indian and Saudi officials. Two close relatives of each victim are expected to be flown to the Kingdom to help with identification and religious rites, with many bodies likely to be buried in Saudi Arabia according to Islamic customs.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has said that 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Telangana were on the bus when it caught fire. He has been in contact with Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, and has urged the Union Government to ensure:

• Timely repatriation of the bodies of those whose families wish to bring them back to India.

• Proper medical treatment and long-term support for the lone survivor.

Condition of Survivor and Identification of Victims

Reports from Saudi Arabia describe a devastating scene at the crash site. The bus was almost completely burned, and many bodies have been reported as charred beyond recognition. This has made forensic identification and documentation more complex and time-consuming.

Indian officials have confirmed that only one passenger, 24-year-old Mohd Abdul Shoiab from Hyderabad, survived the crash. According to media reports, he had moved to a seat near the driver shortly before the collision and managed to smash a window and jump out before the bus was fully engulfed in flames. He is currently in a Saudi hospital ICU, with his condition described as serious but stable. Shoiab is reported to have lost multiple close relatives in the accident.

Families in Telangana and elsewhere in India are anxiously waiting for confirmed news from the state control room, Indian Embassy and Consulate in Jeddah. Many have reached out to the travel agencies that organised the Umrah packages to cross-check passenger lists.

Travel Agencies and Group Details

According to local reports, several of the pilgrims travelled through Hyderabad-based Umrah travel agencies, including Al-Meena Hajj and Umrah Travels and other operators. In total, around 54 pilgrims are reported to have left Hyderabad for Jeddah on 9 November 2025. While some travelled separately by car or remained in Makkah, 46 pilgrims boarded the ill-fated bus to Madinah.

Authorities are matching travel manifests, immigration records and agency booking details with information from Saudi officials to prepare a final list of victims and their hometowns. Telangana officials have said that large family groups from Ramnagar and parts of the Old City in Hyderabad are among those affected.

Advisory for Indian Pilgrims and Families

• Relatives of missing pilgrims should immediately contact the above helpline numbers in Hyderabad and Jeddah for verified information.

• Families should keep passport numbers, Umrah visa copies and travel details ready when calling, to help officials quickly trace records.

• Avoid spreading unverified lists, rumours or images on social media, as this can create confusion and additional distress for families.

This tragic incident once again highlights the importance of strict road safety enforcement on busy pilgrimage routes between Mecca and Madinah, where buses, trucks and private vehicles move at high speeds.

ArabLocal.com will continue to follow this story and update this article as more official information is released by Saudi and Indian authorities.

FAQs: Saudi Arabia Bus Crash Involving Indian Umrah Pilgrims

How many Indians are feared dead in the Saudi Arabia bus crash?

As per current official updates, 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims from Telangana have been confirmed dead after the bus collided with a diesel tanker and caught fire near Mufrihat, close to Madinah. Overall, the total number of fatalities on the bus is expected to be around 45, with only one passenger surviving.

Where did the accident take place?

The crash occurred on the Makkah–Madinah highway in the area of Mufrihat in Saudi Arabia, on the approach to Madinah, in the early hours of 17 November 2025.

Whom should families contact for official information?

Families should contact the Telangana Government Control Room at +91 79979 59754 or +91 99129 19545, or the 24×7 Control Room of the Consulate General of India in Jeddah at 8002440003 (toll-free inside Saudi Arabia) and the other given numbers.