Key Points
- 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims killed after bus collided with diesel tanker near Medina at 1:30 am IST on November 17, 2025
- Victims include 20 women and 11 children, mostly from Hyderabad and Telangana districts
- Accident occurred at Mufrahath between Badr and Medina, 160 km from Mecca, on high-speed road prone to accidents
- Pilgrims were traveling with Fly Zone Tours and Travels and Al Makkah Haj Umrah agencies
- Only one person reportedly survived; bus completely burned making victim identification extremely difficult
- 24×7 control room established at Consulate General of India, Jeddah (toll-free: 8002440003); Telangana government control room numbers: +91 79979 59754, +91 99129 19545
New Delhi: A devastating road accident in Saudi Arabia early Monday morning, November 17, 2025, has plunged numerous Indian families into deep mourning after a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker, resulting in a massive fire. The tragedy occurred around 1:30 am Indian Standard Time at Mufrahath (also referred to as Muhras or Mufarrihat), a location between Badr and Medina on the Mecca-Medina highway, approximately 160 kilometers from Mecca. The Indian pilgrims were returning to Medina after completing their religious rituals at the holy city of Mecca when the collision occurred.
The impact of the collision was so severe that the bus immediately burst into flames and was completely engulfed by fire. Most passengers were asleep at the time of the accident, preventing them from escaping the burning vehicle and significantly worsening the tragedy. According to initial reports from rescue teams, the bus was reduced to ashes, making identification of the deceased extremely difficult and time-consuming. Saudi Civil Defense, police, and local emergency response teams immediately rushed to the accident site to conduct rescue and recovery operations.
Victims Predominantly From Hyderabad
The 42 confirmed fatalities include a significant number of women and children, with reports indicating that 20 women and 11 children perished in the inferno. Most of the victims were residents of Hyderabad and various districts across Telangana state, traveling on Umrah pilgrimage through two Hyderabad-based travel agencies, Fly Zone Tours and Travels and Al Makkah Haj Umrah. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed that 42 Umrah pilgrims were aboard the bus when it caught fire, stating that only one person’s survival has been reported, though this information remains unconfirmed.
The accident site at Mufrahath is located on a wide road segment of the Mecca-Medina highway that is particularly prone to high-speed traffic, contributing to the region’s concerning accident rate. The Mecca-Medina highway is considered the busiest route for Umrah and Hajj pilgrims, with the high volume of heavy vehicles including tankers and buses creating hazardous conditions, especially during nighttime hours.
External Affairs Minister Expresses Shock
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar expressed profound shock over the tragic accident, extending sincere condolences to the bereaved families while praying for the speedy recovery of any injured survivors. In his official statement, Jaishankar assured that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah were providing fullest support to affected Indian nationals and their families. The Minister emphasized that all necessary assistance would be extended to facilitate the repatriation of victims’ bodies to India and to ensure proper medical care for any survivors.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has established a 24×7 control room to assist the families of victims and provide real-time information about the accident and recovery efforts. The toll-free helpline number 8002440003 has been activated for families seeking information or requiring assistance. Indian diplomatic missions are coordinating closely with Saudi authorities on victim identification procedures, condition assessment of any injured persons, and arrangements for repatriating bodies to India.
Telangana Government Mobilizes Response
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed profound shock and grief over the horrific accident involving residents of his state. Reacting to preliminary reports that the tragedy occurred while pilgrims were traveling from Mecca to Medina and involved Hyderabad residents, Chief Minister Reddy immediately directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to obtain complete details about the incident. He also instructed officials to contact the Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy to undertake immediate relief measures and coordinate repatriation efforts.
Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao spoke with Coordination Secretary Gaurav Uppal in Delhi and issued directives for comprehensive assistance to affected families. The Telangana government established a dedicated control room at the State Secretariat to monitor the situation continuously and provide information to anxious families searching for details about their loved ones. Two helpline numbers have been activated for families: +91 79979 59754 and +91 99129 19545, operating round-the-clock to address queries and coordinate with central government agencies.
MP Owaisi Coordinates With Embassy
Hyderabad Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed details of the tragedy and stated that he had established direct contact with Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, who is actively gathering comprehensive information about the incident. Owaisi shared passenger details obtained from both Hyderabad-based travel agencies with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, the Consulate General in Jeddah, and the Foreign Secretary in New Delhi via email to facilitate identification and assistance processes.
The MP urged the Union Government and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to prioritize the immediate repatriation of victims’ bodies to India so families could perform last rites according to religious customs. He also requested that the government ensure proper medical treatment for any injured survivors at quality medical facilities in Saudi Arabia. Owaisi’s office has been coordinating with both travel agencies to compile comprehensive passenger manifests and contact information for next of kin to expedite the identification and notification process.
Identification Challenges Delay Confirmation
Rescue teams and forensic experts at the accident site reported that the intensity of the fire completely incinerated the bus, reducing it to charred metal and ashes. This extensive fire damage has created significant challenges for identifying the deceased, as bodies were severely burned beyond visual recognition. Saudi authorities, working alongside Indian consular officials, are employing forensic identification methods including DNA analysis and examination of any surviving personal effects to establish victims’ identities.
Officials have cautioned that the exact casualty figures and confirmed identities will be released only after the identification process is completed, which may take several days given the extensive damage. The passenger manifest provided by the two travel agencies serves as the primary reference for matching victims, but forensic confirmation remains necessary before officially notifying families and releasing bodies for repatriation. Only one person was reportedly found alive at the accident scene, but there is no official confirmation about this survivor’s identity or current medical condition.
Mecca-Medina Highway Safety Concerns
The Mecca-Medina highway, where the tragic accident occurred, is recognized as one of the busiest pilgrimage routes in the world, carrying millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims annually between Islam’s two holiest cities. The highway experiences extremely heavy traffic, particularly from large buses transporting pilgrims and commercial vehicles including fuel tankers servicing the region’s infrastructure needs. The stretch at Mufrahath between Badr and Medina is characterized by wide roads that encourage high-speed driving, contributing to a concerning accident rate in the area.
Road safety experts have previously identified nighttime travel on this route as particularly hazardous due to driver fatigue, reduced visibility, and the mixing of high-speed pilgrim buses with slow-moving heavy vehicles. The collision pattern, a head-on or near head-on impact between the bus and diesel tanker, suggests possible factors including excessive speed, driver fatigue, or mechanical failure, though official investigation findings have not yet been released. Saudi authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the accident’s causes to determine responsibility and recommend safety improvements.
Families Await Repatriation Details
Families across Hyderabad and Telangana are experiencing profound grief and anxiety as they await official confirmation of their loved ones’ fates and details about body repatriation procedures. Many relatives are continuously attempting to contact the helplines established by both the Indian Consulate in Jeddah and the Telangana state government, seeking information about identification progress and expected timelines for bringing bodies home. The emotional toll on families has been compounded by the difficult identification process, which delays final confirmation and prevents them from beginning funeral arrangements.
Representatives from both Fly Zone Tours and Travels and Al Makkah Haj Umrah are working closely with Indian diplomatic missions and Saudi authorities to facilitate all aspects of victim identification, body preparation according to Islamic customs, and repatriation logistics. The agencies are coordinating with families to arrange necessary documentation including death certificates, clearances for body transport, and flight arrangements once Saudi authorities release the remains. Indian government officials have assured families that all possible assistance will be provided to expedite repatriation while ensuring proper protocols are followed.
Developing Situation Requires Continued Updates
This remains a developing story as Saudi and Indian authorities continue rescue, recovery, and identification operations at the accident site. Official statements regarding the exact number of casualties, confirmed identities, and detailed circumstances of the collision are expected to be released progressively as forensic work advances and investigations proceed. The Indian government, through its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, has committed to maintaining transparent communication with affected families and the public as more information becomes available.
The tragedy has prompted renewed discussions about pilgrim safety on Saudi Arabia’s roads and the need for enhanced safety protocols for buses transporting religious visitors, particularly during nighttime travel. As India’s Umrah pilgrim numbers continue to grow annually, this devastating accident underscores the importance of stringent safety standards, driver training, vehicle maintenance, and route management to prevent future tragedies.
