A tragic bus crash in Saudi Arabia has claimed the lives of dozens of Indian pilgrims, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his deep sorrow over the incident.
The deadly accident occurred on Monday, November 17, when a bus carrying 45 Indian nationals collided with an oil tanker near Madinah. The crash happened at approximately 1:30 am Saudi time, which corresponds to 4 am Indian Standard Time.
Most passengers aboard the bus were Umrah pilgrims from Hyderabad who had traveled to Saudi Arabia for the religious journey. The collision resulted in at least 42 fatalities, with only one pilgrim reportedly surviving the devastating crash.
Prime Minister Modi took to social media platform X to share his condolences with the affected families. He described feeling deeply troubled by the tragedy involving Indian citizens in Madinah.
The Prime Minister assured that India’s diplomatic missions are actively working to assist those affected. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are coordinating relief efforts and maintaining communication with Saudi Arabian authorities.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also responded to the tragedy, expressing shock and sadness over the highway accident on the Madinah-Makkah route. He extended his sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones in this terrible incident.
The crash represents one of the most serious accidents involving Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia in recent years. Indian officials continue working closely with Saudi authorities to provide support and ensure proper assistance reaches the victims’ families.
Both the Prime Minister and Minister Rijiju emphasized their prayers for any injured survivors to recover quickly from this tragic event.
