Chicago – November 17, 2025
A major tragedy unfolded in Saudi Arabia early Monday as 45 Indian pilgrims—mostly from the southern city of Hyderabad—were killed when their bus collided with an oil tanker and burst into flames near Medina. Saudi authorities confirmed that 46 passengers were onboard, with one survivor, 25-year-old Mohammed Abdul Shoeb, now in intensive care.
The group had travelled from Hyderabad on November 9 for Umrah, a non-mandatory Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina performed by millions of Muslims each year. After a week in Mecca, they were on their way to Medina when the accident occurred about 25 kilometres from the city.
Indian officials said 54 pilgrims flew from Hyderabad, but eight avoided the tragedy by travelling separately. The remaining 46 took the ill-fated bus on Sunday afternoon. Many of the victims were part of large family groups, including an extended family of 18 from the Ramnagar neighbourhood in Hyderabad.
The accident has sent shockwaves through Telangana state, where entire localities are now in mourning. At Hyderabad’s Hajj House, relatives gathered with documents and photographs, pleading for updates. Several families said they learned of the disaster from frantic calls made by the lone survivor before he lost consciousness.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened,” adding that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were providing “all possible assistance.” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India was coordinating closely with Saudi officials.
Authorities in both countries have activated emergency efforts. India set up multiple 24/7 control rooms in Jeddah, New Delhi and Hyderabad to help families with information, documentation, and travel arrangements. The Telangana government announced financial assistance and said it would facilitate travel for two relatives from each bereaved family to Saudi Arabia for last rites, which will take place there according to religious customs.
Local politicians and community leaders have also mobilised. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi urged the federal government to bring the victims’ remains home, though officials later confirmed that burials would occur in Saudi Arabia. Telangana ministers and lawmakers have been visiting families across the city, offering support.
For many families, the scale of loss is overwhelming. Relatives of the Ramnagar family said they had pleaded with them not to travel as one large group. Among the dead were nine children.
Indian officials said the group was travelling with private tour operators, who are now working with agents in Saudi Arabia to verify details. Travel agencies in Hyderabad said they were struggling to reach local contacts near the crash site, with communication delayed due to emergency operations underway.
The tragedy highlights how deeply rooted the Umrah tradition is in Hyderabad, where thousands travel each year. As authorities continue confirming identities and coordinating with Saudi officials, families across the city are bracing for the finality of a loss that spans generations.
